So, one of the more exciting times of parenthood is upon me. It's time to get ready for Blair to start school. REAL school. The free kind. (heh)
I moved recently, and part of the reason I chose the apartment I moved to was the fact that it was two blocks from one of the best schools here in San Diego. The "Teacher of the Year" two years ago teaches at that school, and the school has won awards for scholastic acheivement. So I took all my paperwork and went to the school to register him. They told me that even though I lived only two blocks from the school, because of the way the district lines are drawn in my neighborhood, I couldn't register Blair there. I was forced to register him at a school that is 2 1/2 miles away in the opposite direction of work or any freeway entrances. I was pretty miffed that he wouldn't be allowed to go to the school down the street (how messed up is THAT?) but I decided there was nothing I could do and drove over to the other school. After I completed the paperowkr, the lady there broke all the bad news to me. first, they have uniforms. I have no $$ to get uniforms. Second, they are year round. That means four weeks off in spring, four weeks in winter and 8 weeks in summer. Blair's dad has a stipulation in the custody agreement where if I need childcare for more than 8 hours on any given day, Blair is to stay at his dads that day. That means Blair will be staying at his dads for four weeks in spring, four in winter, and 8 in summer. That also means if we follow our current custody agreement, with the extra added time for the long school holidays, dad will end up with more than 50% physical custody. So THAT means, I have to take time off work to go to court and change the custody agreement so Blair can still stay at dad during the school breaks, but I don't miss out on my fair share of the custody. I am going to try to get Blair's dad to agree to a change without going to court, but seeing as how he hates me, I don't see that going smoothly. The third thing that sucks about the school is that there is no after school program. There IS a 6-to-6 program, but for some strange reason, kindergarteners can't go. They accept pre-schoolers and 1-5th graders, but not K. So Now I will have to find a sitter who can not only watch Blair before school (school starts at 8:25 I have to be at work at 8) and get him there in time, but will pick him up after school and take care of him until I get off work at 5. And I also have to find a way to pay this wonderful sitter for doing this. I've been paying only $15 a week for Blair to go to pre-school for 9 1/2 hours a day. Now I am looking at 300-400 for daycare, a price I fully know I cannot afford. The fourth thing that sucks about the school is that it used to be a High school, and has been converted to a elementary school. The "playground" is totally blacktop, no grass at all on the campus. There is one tiny jungle gym for all the kids in the school. Blair needs to run and jump and play to get his energy out, or he will never sit still for class. The school I WANT to register him at has a HUGE playground with FOUR big jungle gyms, two fields, a baseball diamond, basketball courts, the whole nine yards. I am supper bummed about all of this. I don't know how I am supposed to accomplish having Blair go to school. I love my job, its the best things to happen to me. I am getting paid $4 more an hour than I've ever gotten at any other job. I really don't want to have to quit and find a new job just because of Blair's school. It's just not fair, why can't I put him in the school we can walk to? Why do I have to go so far away? Its so stupid. I am so frustrated. Does anyone have any advice how I can get through this?

By the way, I posted this in Working Full Time because it seems that my job is the biggest obstical to Blair's schooling. How do you work full time when your kids are only in school part time?

Hi Sera, Don't know that it would do any good but have you tried the school district office to see if they can do anything? Sometimes they'll let you sign up for a school of preference rather than boundaries and make adjustments according to class loads at different schools.

I suppose moving again to within that school boundaries isn't feesible?

I do hope you can get something worked out.

Thanks for replying Don. I did go to the school district today. Yet another 1/2 day off work, thats the third one, just to register Blair for school. At first, the lady I was talking to pretty much re-itterated what the schools told me, the lines are drawn where they are drawn and there's nothing I can do about it. Then she told me that there is something called "Choice" where you can apply for empty spots in schools. I had heard about Choice, but if I was going to apply for Blair to go to a different school, I wanted it to be the performing arts magnet school. If he gets into THAT school, he will be in a magnet program with a performing arts based cirriculum. The magnet program takes him to a performing arts jr high and high school, so he would be able to do what he loves all through school. And the bonus is that only students in the magnet program are guaranteed enrollment in the Performing arts high school, which all other students must audition for. So I told the lady I'd like to do the Choice for the performing arts school, but wasn't there any way to avoid Blair having to go to the year round school? She finally got one of her administrators. I started crying as I told the administrator about having to move, and why I moved where I did, and how year-round school would ruin my custody agreement, and how I didn't see how I could keep my job and have my son in school at the year round school. She finally broke, she allowed me to fill out two Choice applications, one for the school by my house and one for the performing arts school. She said to call her at the end of August and she would personally call the school by my house and request that Blair be moved up the list for enrollment. She said even without her call, he should be able to start there in the fall, and that he may get accepted into the performing arts school as soon as ten days after the school year starts. she said because he is in K, an entry level grade, it is easier to get him into a different school than it would be for a higher grade. I feel a lot better about everything, but all the same, I won't know anything for sure until the end of august.

Seraphin,

Glad to hear things are looking up. It is very frustrating trying to get everything set up so you can work full time AND have your child properly taken care of.

In my personal experience, it's an on-going challenge - as things change and you have to re-arrange.

I found my current day care (for my little one) thru the school my son goes to. She's a recent single Mom, and just started her home daycare. It's working out pretty well, and her rates are reasonable. I felt better having a good recommendation from his school.

My big problem was, any day care I found wanted him full time, and I have him every other week... and my ex refused to agree on any place!

I know how frustrating it can be, and I wish you the best of luck. I too moved to where I am so my oldest son could go to a certain high school, only to find out I was in a different district. Lucky for me, his father's address IS in the district needed - so there was nothing they could say.

Really hope things work out for you!!

Glad to hear that Sera, hope that all falls into place for you. I had a similar time with Amanda going into junior high this fall, wanted her to attend a particular school and into GATE program. Had me pretty unsure for a bit but it worked out in the end.

quote:

lady there broke all the bad news to me. first, they have uniforms. I have no $$ to get uniforms. Second, they are year round. That means four weeks off in spring, four weeks in winter and 8 weeks in summer. Blair's dad has a stipulation in the custody agreement where if I need childcare for more than 8 hours on any given day, Blair is to stay at his dads that day. That means Blair will be staying at his dads for four weeks in spring, four in winter, and 8 in summer. That also means if we follow our current custody agreement, with the extra added time for the long school holidays, dad will end up with more than 50% physical custody. So THAT means, I have to take time off work to go to court and change the custody agreement so Blair can still stay at dad during the school breaks, but I don't miss out on my fair share of the custody.

You need to go to the Principal of both schools and the Super of schools ALONG with possibly the school board. There should be exceptions for special situations like this. If they offer you nothing you go to the school board with it.

I understand the districting crap... it is miserable here!

I do know that in this town, where I used to teach, ........very quietly (administration not letting other parents know) exceptions were made for "special situations" This DEFINITELY falls into that category!

Don't do anything without at least a fight on this. The custody situation in itself is enough of an issue nevermind the financial parts due to childcare and court costs!

LOL I got SO ticked off for you I skipped reading the replies! I see you are making progress.

And CALL HER IN the 1st day of the second week in August and Weekly after that!

Also, write her a letter to thank her for her sincere consideration of yours and Blaire's situation and how the world is a better place because of people like her... and such LOL Seriously, professionally personal sort of letter just so she see's your name, knows it means a lot to you, and keeps you right at the top of her memory bank. Trust me, people say things and somehow forget or get talked out of them and then have to turn on you. School systems are notorious for that.

Thanks Sue, thats a great idea. I have the address of the lady who is going to help me, she gave me her business card. Should I send the letter now or should I wait until August? I can't call her until August 24th because the school she needs to call won't be staffed until that day. But I will be sure to call her that very day, school starts September 6th so I will need to get the ball rolling as soon as the school is staffed. She seemed confident that she could get Blair into the school I want. Thanks so much for your reply, I have been feeling so lost. It's nice to know I am not the only one who's gone through this.

Send the letter now, sort of as a follow-up thank you to the last time you saw her.