On March 13, the staff, teachers and parents at Russell Ridge received a letter, telling us that this school, which has served the Tahoma School District for 20 years, would suddenly close at the end of this school year. The district did not follow the law or their required policy when the potential to close a school exists. Many people have never heard of Russell Ridge, or, what they may have heard about the school might be inaccurate.
First, what is Russell Ridge? Russell Ridge is a K-8 parent-partnered public school where parents work with highly-qualified certified teachers to coordinate a learning plan for each student. That plan is fulfilled by onsite and offsite classes and learning. Unlike the statement from Superintendent Morrow, Russell Ridge is not a home-school co-op, nor is it a district “program.” It is a state-approved and state audited ALE (alternative learning experience). It is a school for which the Tahoma School District has received state funds for 20 years. It is this lack of understanding from the district administration and board that many parents at Russell Ridge find frustrating.
At Russell Ridge, each parent meets with their certified teacher/advisor monthly to ensure that their student’s learning plans are progressing. Students typically attend onsite classes between one and four days a week, choosing typical classes like math, science, history and language arts. All classes, both onsite and offsite, bring state funding into the school. Onsite classes are taught by certified teachers and community educators, offsite classes are monitored by the teacher, but taught by parents. Each of these offsite classes brings funds into the district, but they cost the district a very small percentage of what an onsite class at a neighborhood school costs. This is how Russell Ridge, and other successful ALE’s, are able to support (on their own) smaller class sizes.
Second, what sorts of students attend Russell Ridge? It is a common misconception that Russell Ridge is “for the troubled kids.” That is not the case. Our students are typical kids who tried traditional neighborhood schools and for different reasons, found that they didn’t work for them. They may have felt stressed or severely unnoticed, many weren’t challenged or they were bored and were thus distracted. Some are quiet kids or were targets of bullying.
They are plain ol’ regular kids. Russell Ridge students aren’t strange or weird or troubled, they’re just kids who need an education.
Third, district administration is keenly aware of the frustrations that Tahoma families feel. They are trying to deal with problems like overcrowding, lack of individual student attention, distracted, bored, and under performing students. What the administration doesn’t seem to realize is that Russell Ridge can help these families and, it can help the district address the challenge of overcrowding. Alas, families in the area do not even know that Russell Ridge exists.
We call on the district administration and the school board to inform the public about this great school, that it is a valuable option, and that it can help many students in this great district.
We understand that measurable criteria are required for a school so unique. We want to collaborate with district administration to keep this important school open. Let us work together. It is much easier to work together now to keep this school open than to close it and try to figure out later how to provide this important kind of learning experience.
Larry and Kristin Baldwin
Maple Valley
