Patty Kleban: In Education, (Small) Size Matters

I’m putting this one in the category of ‘Putting your money where your mouth is.’

I would like to preface this column with the fact that my husband and I met and graduated from State High. Our seven siblings all graduated from State High, and our two daughters are recent grads. We have season tickets for the Little Lion football games and attend our high school reunions. Somewhere in my house, I still have my class of 1978 cheerleading jacket. I am a State High fan.

Why then have we decided that our son will be a member of the inaugural class at St. Joesph’s Catholic Academy?

If you haven’t heard about it, there is a new high school opening at the site of the former Boalsburg Elementary School. With renovations and additions under way, the new St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy will be opening for ninth and 10th grades in the fall. State College is getting a second high school.

Like our neighbors in Penns Valley, Bellefonte and all over central Pennsylvania, students in State College will now have the opportunity to attend a small high school.

Research in education has shown it over and over again. Smaller learning environments mean all sorts of good things. More individualized teacher-student interaction. Improved standardized test scores. More opportunities in extra-curricular activities. Reduced levels of violence and crime. Fewer reports of bullying and victimization. Greater accountability and a sense of community.

Something as simple as how often an adult says a child’s name is linked to greater connections. The research is overwhelming that smaller is where it’s at in education.

Ask parents in State College and they say, ‘We love our small, neighborhood elementary schools.’ Small builds relationships, a sense of community and makes it easier for kids to get both the support and recognition that they need. We already have two middle schools that offer those benefits; we understand that smaller environments and greater supervision for that age group is better.

With the exception of about 100 kids who attend the Delta Program (a true small school), the other 2,500 high school students in State College are funneled into State High, albeit spread out in two buildings.

There are very few people who would say that if we were starting out with a fresh slate and an unlimited budget that it would be the ideal in today’s culture – even in Happy Valley – to put thousands of kids in one high school.

I was an outspoken opponent of the plans to renovate the high school into a warehouse that could house up to 3,000 students. When those renovation plans were abandoned, speaking only for myself, I had hoped that the conversations about ‘what to do with the high school’ would have come around to splitting the high school. Unfortunately, conversations about creating two high schools from one, as we did with our middle schools in the ’70s, have been met with all kinds of opposition – little of it having to do with education. It would divide the town. The high school is what brings the townships and the borough together. We won’t have state champions in sports or elite bands or Broadway-quality theatre. It would cost too much. We couldn’t offer the boutique courses that we offer now. It would divide our great faculty. We would have to duplicate every single program and facility to make it ‘fair.’ We’ve always done it with one high school.

In these tight economic times, school districts are under incredible financial pressure. Making major changes to curriculum delivery, buildings, support facilities, etc. is going to require considerable thought and public discussion. It’s also going to take time.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy has more than 50 kids registered so far – some whose families are just moving to the area, but most of whom are coming from Bellefonte and State College. They have brought in highly qualified, credentialed teachers. The leadership and administration have extensive experience. The tuition is reasonable, but there are also funds available to help families who may need some assistance.

The classes will be small. They will offer college prep, honors and advanced placement classes. When the kids can’t get to school because of weather, they will be expected to log in to the Internet so they can stay on top of course material from home. They’ll finish the school year in early June. They’ll wear clothing that is respectful to the process. They will study theology even though everyone won’t be of the same faith. They’ll have field trips and an exchange program for students to study abroad. They’ll have PIAA sports, intramurals, band, choir and clubs. They will have drivers ed.

Ironically, they are turning what used to be a small, neighborhood elementary into a small, accessible high school.

It’s hard to think about leaving State High. Incredible teachers. Award-winning extra-curricular activities and special programs. Sports. Band. Theater. Clubs. Record numbers of merit scholars. It’s my alma mater.

St. Joe’s might not have everything this year, but we have ‘faith’ that it’s coming. This decision feels right for our son. That Kleban kid who was in the first class to go from kindergarten through fifth grade at the new Grays Woods Elementary School is perhaps going to be among the first to start and finish high school at the new second high school in State College.

I’m putting my money where my mouth is.