Last Session: Working Meeting #7

The committee reviewed Jackson boundaries and determined that the Edgefield, Fishback and other homes off Evergreen would move to Patterson as shown in plans prior to Plan 6.

The committee also reviewed boundaries for ES27, considering taking students from Butternut Creek and Witch Hazel rather than from Ladd Acres which would mean the 'portable' neighborhood west of Brown would once again move from Ladd Acres into Indian Hills
vs
Plan 6 draft which pulled from Ladd Acres but this time intending it as a long term change of those areas to the Hilhi feeder rather than the temporary move suggested in the board working session.

After some review the committee determined that it made sense to pull from Ladd Acres similar to what was shown in the draft boundary for ES27 (slightly reduced, area in the NE corner of proposed ES27 boundary left in Ladd) and would make that recommendation to the board as a long term change, not a temporary one.

The biggest concern was that without pulling from Ladd to ES27, it would mean changes from plan 6 that impacted 5 schools, re-touching on many areas already discussed by the committee with the community, just prior to going to the board. The concern with pulling from Ladd Acres into Hilhi was that the area in question represents students that currently walk to Century.

They also considered changes for Minter Bridge, still under discussion as I write.

Update: Minor adjustments to Patterson/Lincoln/McKinney that I didn't really follow because I was writing the above.

Another update: Transfer process discussed will be a generous process, allowing 6th graders to complete ES experience with transfer request. MS transfers considered with emphasis on aligning with feeder group (ie, bias to not transfer). HS transfers with emphasis on approving transfers for those who have started at a given school. No transportation for transfers, if there is a stop for the school nearby they will consider the request if space is available on the bus and it is safe for the student to walk to an existing pickup area.

Just One More Update - Communication Plan: Pending board approval, the district will notify parents of children being moved. Campus principals will be given copies of maps and the district will continue with media communications, press releases as well as posting on the web. Hispanic outreach is planned for the latino community on the web plus other methods (in process). Realtor community will be informed. Transition activities will be communicated once established, welcoming and closing ceremonies at schools with PTA/PTO involvement.

Specific changes to each school will be made available for communication at each school. During summer the communication will be personalized indicating specific changes for the student, a personal contact with each family or general notice affirming they will stay or change. Board is concerned that it be a personal attempt to notify families of changes. Concerned about confusion from split timeline that will need worked through in notification process.

District will make a special effort to communicate to Ladd Acres families impacted at the '11th hour', they don't want a group of parents to not know about such a major change. The committee will talk to Ladd Acres principal to ensure good communication, especially since those going to ES27 from Ladd Acres are changing HS feeders.