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Interview with FFST Member Jonathan Prince on Beverly Hills View

Added Jan 24, 2018 •

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Host Josh Gross interviews "Future Focused Schools Team" member Jonathan Prince on Beverly Hills View. Recorded on January 19, 2018.

Show Transcript

welcome to Beverly Hills on Josh gross welcome thank you too Jonathan many hats in the community but Public Schools Beverly Hills Public Schools we should set up a director and Creator IHOP how to set up your credentials specifically your father who recently passed away was on the school board they were the school board and he wasn't in 60s Marty Prince and King Institute of the mod 70 program which he works at Lyle Suter to create the program that became bringing in people who are from disadvantaged neighborhoods but largely Black and Hispanic kids to come here which graduated incredible High School became the permit program a cultural diversity he loved our public schools and acid I my mother went to the Brotherhood public school she went to Beverly Vista and she went to the high school my four sisters and I also moved back to Beverly house and we were there and I moved back in my son graduated 3 years ago he's now at Duke so I we had three generations from kindergarten through 12th grade and my mother's a public school teacher she's a special ed teacher in the LA County District for 35 years as basically like to see that but also involvement when you wish I was younger you got involved your present a b****  I did I miss the education for a couple of years running it's about fundraising Vallarta stop making people aware of where the needs in the public schools wear that their money can make a difference okay so is it safe to say you're a public schools guy or junkie opposed to see whether my son was going to go to the Republic right whatever they were in we were right and we're going to talk about reconfiguration and some interesting subject to the moment but just to set this up and obviously we're friends off-camera to but one conversation we've had many times over the years are the schools as good they were that's something that classmates of yours are in my area obviously I attended Beverly Public Schools everybody who watches the show knows we hear this a lot of the schools as good as they used to be what does that mean it means are we delivering edges enrichment counseling extracurriculars Athletics graduating from their K-8 and from their high school with the same kind of opportunities to tackle what snacks are they transitioning from 8th Grade Center great as well as they used to are they transition from College from high school in to either Community College or 4-year universities or even careers with the skills and the the sense of self-esteem even that they used to why we are model is a 20th century model into an exceptional 20th century Mile and our kids are graduating into a 21st century world and we have not changed significant parts of our model of delivery meaning are the teachers as good of course are they are there some who aren't as good yes back when we went to school there were teachers ever Bad Teachers or we could teach students are their parents who are involved in helping those dude about tools are they on them for their homework are they driving interested curricular activities yes are their parents who aren't yes has that changed considerably I don't think so I think it's about the same really the differences and building the building of the building raise bonds to money and bonds to change buildings but what goes on inside of the building is much more important and that hasn't changed we have had a K through 8 model and a 912 model We Don't Run Middle School's right we run an elementary 4K 819 12 weeks now started this conversation about is there may be a better way we're going to get into future Focus was in love with the way that is a developmentally appropriate to the age students you feel a certain kind of student out on large scope kids are graduating from Beverly High and they are going to find institution right and to Compare the numbers of kids who are getting into Harvard Northwestern that's not fair it's harder to get in how much harder than you have more students of high-volume that's right I saw how hard that was are there you were graduating and finding fulfillment at Santa Monica Community College there are absolutely and there's a significant cost Savings of going to NYU in and out doing quite well there but the real question is the middle kid is that kid who is is not an academic Superstar and isn't part of the plan but they're thinking I don't know where I'm going to go I need to find myself book in my identity but also sort of academically kids are getting lost in the 6th grade and they're not finding does off until 10th grade and here's the problem 9th grade counts your grades even your self-esteem and finding your tribe talent show in 6th grade once you start to get lost and they're lost for a very simple we're not doing anything too active engage them at their developmentally appropriate level because running a K through 8 he said this about the Kate Model T Club for people to do wrap their head around that because they're so many people in the community and this is a beautiful thing they went there and their grandparents went there and they want to have their kids to have that same experience, but it's also true that there's some excellent middle schools in the Los Angeles area in Las Virgenes school district and that if you do have a dedicated Middle School you can offer very specialized resources for middle school students so absolutely terrified of a middle school what would he have to say about that I could talk all day about this so there we we are running a very not only expensive but a very limited model for kids we're simply running for separate middle schools in our community and to Run Middle School program which is much like a mini High School which it should be that the different Staffing and scheduling options that we have teachers teaching multiple subjects because there isn't that critical mass kids they're having a one Middle School is it is it is not only creating Financial efficiency it's actually creating a better environment not only for kids but also pictures OKC sour dr. Brady had to say the cake model is actually very unusual in California there aren't a lot of school districts of do it most school districts public school district have a k 568 model when you first heard that were you surprised I was because I knew the K model and I treasure to remember we develop the kid model hero we adapted it back in the early nineteen-hundreds and then later through the through the 1950 60s 70s and 80s and 90s find for one specific reason pre siriano decision 13 and our schools were filled with children so programs were flourishing because we had enough children to for example we have an orchestra at Hawthorne did I don't know the exact numbers but I think there's about 13 kids 13 kids his orchestra make it's barely a string section so there were more kids there more opportunities to have more teachers and pay more teachers to beat all for KH there for the sea 7th and 8th grade was Morgan Middle School experience right we didn't win two basic egg but which we were no that are getting money for everybody in her student right and suddenly what do you have 15 students are 13 students in our class or 30 you're getting paid the same amount to run that program let me stop right there again cuz not all of yours are any of these subjects like we are any model which is a state funding model we don't have any choice nice weather to be basket or not it's a state formula with the only basic a district in the state of in the LA County districts in the state of California and we don't have an incentive to miss or they have more and so consequently the board of education at that time started to phase out students were here on permit so that now we have approximately 4000 students in the five schools approximately 100 on permit a small amount of students on permit versus 10 years ago and your point is how do we consider it now to meet our needs which is also your viewers in Arcadia false sense of because the fewer students there are doesn't affect the number of dollars were spending so suddenly Les Dunes means they were spending more money per student and in fact looking at comprable District we're spending about we spend about $14,000 per person per year that and other districts that are performing better than us in terms of test score to me this is quantitatively performing beneficent any more successful by the way all of those at 6 a.m. it's not just they're not basic Aid. That's Fool's Gold all of the comprable models and and that's in every every piece of information you'll see when people in our community site the district that they wish they could be like all of them have a Consolidated Standalone middle school and what should the schools look like in the future first slide which is on the superintendent's presentation couple days ago this is who was on the future Focus school so basically and we'll run this as we're talking better mix of parents non-parents teachers retired guilty administrators laypeople cross-section The Comedians not anyone group of you know closet light meaning of the doctor Bragg you received the applications which we've filled in online by the way the entire Community was offered to be a part of that can you show 22 people having a Whited out their names but just read why do they want to be on it what are the recommendations and put together a committee that is itching I would tell you that anybody you interview than a committee will say that it's been an honor to serve on it and it's been an amazing education a lot of news lot of new faces if it's not the same old people depopulate these things some new faces also some small faces that we've known for many years great mix why'd you want to serve I love our city at like you you know I love our schools and I believed We Kick the Can long enough meaning each board has to Grapple with two important decisions one is our we effectively spending our money are we spending more per student each year and that's more money than we're making bringing in from the property taxes and more important than that why is this stomach issue it's not anecdotal and it's not incidental there is a Stetson stomach issue and it is unpopular for an elected at the I like a board of education member to ask a question like should we change the kid model that that's a sure-fire way of not getting elected not elected official to us to a committee we're going to meet from October we we met as late as last week we presented to the board to just get Dad and by the way the data was available to the community it's just they didn't have the tour guides that we have together a handful people in town have made an hour the committee was rigged yeah I like that one you believe it was right I didn't get the Paola if it wasn't rigged no one told me I walked into that meeting with teachers retired teachers as you said other parents many people in LAUSD and XL USD board member very intelligent people I felt strongly at that moment that we should find a way to keep the kid model so I'm going to tell you is one member of the sfst my opinion evolved over time based on the information and data that I got so if it was rigged and they were counting on me to be at K-8 they lost so I don't think it was real good all I've seen the votes along the way and we waiting on the various models people have changed their so I don't think it would make any couldn't be rigged because I don't think anybody I remember quite well and you should look at this I don't think the questionnaire asked how do you feel about Middle School's how do you feel about Ka they did ask why do you want to be on it the extra qualification show there is an again what's going to join the darker side of instituting a standalone Consolidated Metals night, because what you're saying is it is 36in Illinois they had similar issues in there looking at closing schools I try again I hear the detractors not a big fan of doctor I think he has integrity and transparency is doing the best he can and a hard job he didn't Institute of Middle School Board of Education did he won't do it here meaning if you brought him in to be an implementer or someone who can make a transition I understand but that means that the board had that were the agent about change and so far 5 board members something and they believed in the middle school before they brought him here then they saw him out as a piece of talent to do that it's at the hidden agenda look to your bored but take a break will you more lots to talk about Middle School Prince after death we are getschooled.com that's why we're here and here to guide you through every step of the way starting with is there a financial aid forms I got college man you and us go together like tacos and Tuesday and I love go to get school.com finally bought a place we have enough saved we have nothing left to say yeah I have no idea where it goes when it comes to financial stability don't get left behind get tools and tips for sighting at feedthepig.org Middle School no Middle School what are we going to him Beverly Hills so beautiful the school's committee which we talked about for the break was assembled to look at all the different options back and you guys said that you looked at many different configurations you looked at keeping all four case the way they are now and we must analyze if we are to keep the for kids it's not just is it good or bad it's if that's the model that the board votes to keep how can we improve it okay to remember our job is not just to throw out loud as it would to say if if we keep the status quo is there a way to improve on and then there's another option of course which will be close one of the cage by 3K and a 912 and just close the school for example Hawthorne has been mentioned on The Hit List I don't know that the board has actually discussed it publicly but everybody knows that's the school they're looking at and one thing to mention there a people talk about the best tea targeting schools I can tell you cuz I'm in the meeting we never really talked about which school is which cuz that's not up to watch without the cilities people for the first time last week the new facility director sat in on a meeting with Don Blake to give us information so we've been living in a world in which the consolidation or the three KH would that be a better delivery model because there would be more six through eight kids in each class you save money by buying for lunch teacher and the answer is sweet actually save money and yes 360 waves with more children age classroom is better who is better a Little House on the Prairie little bit of ridiculous Freddy's mini Consolidated Schools they took 3 high schools in made one but I'm in the early nineties that are 3,000 to 3000 students you can do all kinds of pools that have 4000 why is our district ranking it's not merely because of lack of permits I think that's it that's a bit of a red herring is our own residence aren't choosing to put their students in the either rkh or are there's your family. Don't have kids if you were kids we discussed patience mother schools in touch locations of the sfst which is what may reviews want to know you guys went with the 6-8 option why they took a boat and the vote was overwhelming to recommend not Anakin one of those was recommended more than one option to be recommended Closing one keeping a k a model or the Middle School model and the vote to have a singular recommendation was overwhelming and the vote for the recommendation 19 to 2 it was huge we voted to have a one single Consolidated middle school and in the board presentation that we made on Tuesday night the slide said Consulting middle school but not next year because we what is the date was this is a change this isn't a change of the proportions are district has never had to tackle and to try to do something right away would mean that the children were currently in the system are lab rats or guinea pigs your your child only gets one 7th grade year why should it be your least we haven't thought through what 7th grade is it in over 2 years or what what do you have any decisions the notion was too that put on a transition committee not an fs-50 but a real Committee of people who are specialist in delivery of curriculum and Richmond Transportation social and emotional needs let them spend the fall of 2018 through spring 18 analyzing okay if we're going to do this how do we where we Human Resources there's a huge changed early and teachers so we had said slow steady and studied study it slowly but with a goal we're not kicking the can and that's where the biggest thing here is to make recommendations to say if you make no significant changes next year and maybe you do maybe you close one of the cage just because you're saving money in trying to consolidate and it will improve the middle pretend you close one of the kids doesn't matter his Hawthorne that weirdo it's probably not Horace Mann did you close the school you're only doing it not because you're just saving money that's not fair to the student you do it because you believe those Consolidated three schools of mental education is better for delivery because there's more critical mass needs classroom resources slides while we're chatting and we'll just look at them over talking to 1st and of course from the super dentists presentation about why would have specifically the things you can offer in a middle school that you can offer in case the number one issue for you I know personally was elected cry cry with everything out there who would going through and had lots of a peas in high school matters who you are and this is just for colleges they want to know what you're passionate about their pacing and when he was principal used to say our job is to help it didn't find their passion and give them the opportunity to excel at it so is it is it Athletics is it the art is a graphic art culinary those things aren't available in a in a in a well delivered model the middle school at the high school by the way we can do quite well if you made those things available in middle school you can begin to and I think this is important that 5th grader graduate to a middle school we all talk about this I could find their tribe earlier your tribe is theater your tribe is lacrosse if your tribe is graphic Archer Visual Arts or journalism you can find that try to consolidate with other like-minded kids secondly they're going to be fine how about the kids hate school and just hate school she doesn't like going to school she's in 7th grade the only thing she likes his her art class her lacrosse reconfiguration Ka we are not giving kids a reason to love will be on DACA. Hold on and we can't because there's simply not enough children is that correct anyway you slice it you're going to come to that conclusion because no matter what journalism class let's use that as an example to put out Aurora jail for many years offer to a vigorous journalism 7th and 8th grade experience other K-8 Beverly We Are The Beverly Hills Unified School District we're not a district of Unified Schools in Unified School District has to offer the same things at each campus to the same kid and that's the other problem with the K we weren't offering the same elective but even in some sort of academic it wasn't racking horse man didn't have the same chance to have a robotics because it's not so much the people are fleeing in droves they shouldn't it's the combination of the phasing out the permits would happen over five six year. And as we discussed smaller families families having more choices families with no kids Etc people used to do anything they could to buy or rent in Beverly Hills that's no longer in which we say to people who live in nearby districts I'm here I will tell you this colleges want public school kids more than one private school public school kids develop a better sense of their self and a better sense of competition and a better and meeting more people of their acrostic that the strata economically culturally why do people stop coming here or extracurriculars are academics are still good but we're failing in certain areas there's a strong belief larkmead Saturn are committed Vince Vaughn said the pathway Gardens good we used to have better pathway so kids from six to eight grade back in the day when we had critical mass in the classes were taught there strippers and talk we had better transition tonight great why is our football team have a hard time play the Madden play football this year many players on the baseball team will be playing baseball for the first time and I'm in focus on Sports for 2 seconds if you had a Middle School baseball team skills and have a team and all that but the pathway. add that to robotic here's the other thing what we offer in 6 to 8 as after-school opportunities or Club what you can do when you're all on the same cap and we are going up again in competitions Statewide or even Southern California are good smart kids are getting their butts kicked why those districts that are winning offer them as part of curriculum and we're offering them as Club okay talk about this proposed middle with today's numbers would be talking about 9 or 60 kids plus or minus there's some talk and be located at Wardell do you have a preference as to where the Middle School is located we need a recommendation to the board that was at Rosedale because I rode a was currently in construction because El Rodeo's plans although their paws there they will be approved and what interesting Kevin Allen sits in our committee use the principle he boat and Don Blake agreed that tweaking El Rodeo to make it a middle school can be done with the current set of play it's about getting rid of certain kindergarten size bathrooms and that's replacing toilet has a relatively large Auditorium as far as the closest to the high school so if we don't have athletic feet El Rodeo yet those kids could play in high school if you wanted to take a high school class you can walk the high school so that's important that other reason would be if we had another Bond and again money is always the issue we could build their space to build a gymnasium on the new underground parking lot an indoor gym like most Middle School we thought that our day was the right choice for all those reasons there people talk about Beverly Vista being that school the challenges you would have to do a lot of reconfiguring your end and you get inside politics a lot of the parents are you're very happy to be lived in Bungalows and succeeded in Thrive yes one school to becomes the middle school that Communities going to be up in arms for a while until you build a bright shining Middle School everybody wants to come too and people rent Beverly Hills to go to it okay now the obvious question though of course our viewers are thinking this to Jonathan Prince you went Ka El Rodeo your son when you don't have any qualms any reservation about I've not I've known because I don't want to be popular or like I'm on my way to not so I don't need to say to a parent base I can be empathetic I feel your pain when parents said we moved to Beverly Hills for the K-8 custom I say even if you were pre-approved to you that it was not the best way to educate your child to enrich your child to prepare them for college or careers even if you knew that or did you move here thinking it's Beverly Hills it's K it's got to be the best so I think information is everything I have no hesitation I I once I learned I would there was a moment in time which I thought the cage for the best I said this to you earlier what change my mind was this critical mass no matter how big are population gets if we do in fact bring people back to the schools will never have enough kids at the 6th grade level for today did have to close Crossroads harvard-westlake and Willow I don't have any qualms it's important that we know that there people who voted against this model there were two voters who voted in our team for not convinced one felt that we were rushing are tied and making our decision to quickly the other was in favor of the KA Mal and trying to improve it the best we had both of them spoke at the meeting on Tuesday night in front of the board because we felt it was important that dissenting opinion was hard but 19 to 2. are people more important than that many of them are professional Educators so if I sit there with Middle School teachers retirement School teachers current teachers current counselor me hey it's important this is the best way to fix this disk Optimus you don't have to come when you're arguing about whether to get vaccines or not talk to a doctor and then make your parent whose child is going to be impacted by the potentially move to another school is that a real suppose this or is there a way in your opinion to make this work change is difficult I think it's a good reason for you to apologize I would say to a Middle School Parent or apparently about to go to middle school for fifth grade and even the ones already in school I'd say ask your kid ask your kid what it would feel like to be moved to a new school with your friends by one kid but what would you think about that experience and then ask him about the goal would you like to be in middle school would you like to be with only 6 7/8 greater what's changed the most Josh is that they used to say K through 8 keep our kids we like to cuz he ate graders were on the same campuses kindergarten I'll tell you that the 8th grader don't want to be on the same camp 2018 I'm not sure that argument makes the phone what's the Kardashians you got a Jonathan Prince what's the next time on Beverly Hills you

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Interview with FFST Member Jonathan Prince on Beverly Hills View

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