Bel-Air Elementary School

I love this community so much that I have been willing to stick it out with a ridiculous principal turn over rate. The majority of the staff want great things for this school. Please help us by committing to Bel Air your time and effort. We need parents and grandparents, aunties and uncles to be a part of the solution not just gripe about things that ARE fixable. We are a small school. Bel Air is not the only elementary struggling with teacher student ratios. No one gets aids anymore in 1st grade. I love this school and am not afraid to see if become a truly great school, but, we need help. This year I will be laying out hundreds, perhaps thousands of dollars to ensure your child has an engaging, well planned environment designed to make learning natural and accessible. I can't wait!
--Submitted by a teacher

my daughter has been at this school for 3 yrs now, I feel that this school has improved, but not enough to keep my daughter there for the next two yrs... I feel the teachers have too many students in the classrooms and the students do not get the much needed one on one attention they deserve.
--Submitted by a parent

My son is in 1st grade and this is his second year this school is sooo much better than last year. The principal is great and really cares for the kids not just the bottom line. The teachers seem to get along better and don't seem to be so stressed it's all great!
--Submitted by a parent

The school this year has shown so much growth. Teachers and students are more caring and show more interest in their jobs. The principal finally knows how to run a school and will call you back which is a first. Other support staff is wonderful and is more than willing to help. It is wonderful to see this school turn around.
--Submitted by a parent

The beginning of the2009-2010 school year has been fantastic. We have an amazing new principal who has the knowledge, experience and heart. Her leadership qualities will make us an even stronger school.
--Submitted by a teacher

The new principal is wonderful. It seems as though she has turned the school around in a month. I've noticed so many positive changes and I'm looking forward to the 2009-2010 school year.
--Submitted by a parent

I have been a part of this school for quite sometime now . And my main concern is the attitude of the new principle she has taken away lots of things from our students that they have really worked hard and looked forward to these perks of going to school . However I have chosen to take my children else where this 08-09 school year due to having her as our principle this year ! I think the school has really went down hill since she started running it .
--Submitted by a parent

I've had two attend and my son will start next month. I'm thoroughly unimpressed with the most of the teachers and the management of the school. The only teacher I liked was demoted for, I believe, having higher expectations than what folks these days are comfortable with. I also feel there report card system is useless. I guess the idea now days is as long as a child demonstrates some understanding of a concept, there performance is irrelevant. Until parents start expecting more from their children than 'Proficiency', nothing will change.
--Submitted by a parent

i wrote thew dec.2004 comment. since then nothing has changed. the teacher's are stressed and the ones who are promised help got little. the ratio has increased to approx. 17-20 students per teacher. only the kindergarten is given any helpers. the principal isnt as 'into' her job as i would like. she doesnt take suggestions the teaching and counceling staff are good, but get little recognition. i only hope things improve there for the next school year.
--Submitted by a parent

The 12/1 ratio of child and teacher is way way off. I have volunteered there very few classes have less than 15-17 students. It is very understaffed as far as teacher's aides go. They need alot more help the lack of extra help stresses the teachers and is not good for the students. The tutors are very caring and helpful. The aides they do have for the most part are good, a couple arent really into their job, due to lack of adiquate monitary compensation. They are over worked and under paid.
--Submitted by a parent