The board reviewed the updated boundaries and transfer process. A few members of the public commented regarding Jackson changes, from Fishback and Edgefield neighborhoods.
During public comment I was able to ask about the 59 homes added to the SE corner of the boundary. According to current district records there are 13 kids in that area, 7 less than my lowest estimate. The committee discussed this change over email and the change was approved.
This means the total add of grades 1-6 will be approx. 55 kids - assuming kinders are represented by 15% of that number (our current ratio) that puts our total at approx. 65 kids added, about 2.5 classes. Adding in an additional class from the Copperleaf subdivision over the next 1.5 years we should end up with 3.5 classes added. As time goes by, given that the area will be completely built out, we should eventually see a gradual reduction in enrollment per the PSU study and I think that was a factor for the committee as they discussed the same consideration for Imlay.
I also asked about getting school capacity numbers against enrollment for the plan and Mr. Pérez committed to get that to me - he explained that a previous request to get the info to me had fallen through the cracks. Given the schedule the committee is keeping, I'm not surprised and I appreciate that he took the time to explain what happened.
I would be surprised if this boundary proposal fails to pass at the next meeting but I strongly encourage anyone concerned about the impact to Indian Hills or any other area in the district to get their feedback to the board. They will be receiving updated public input on a weekly basis until the 30 day review is completed.
Showing posts with label meetings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meetings. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Late Addition to Indian Hills Boundary
Final boundary recommendation was posted on the HSD website (link).
Based on some requests from a family in the Reedville boundary to keep them with their neighborhood the boundary has been extended down to below SW Trelane from Johnson. This adds 59 houses into the Indian Hills boundary from what was presented in Plan 6 and approved in the working meeting last week.
Since this change was not discussed fully in the working meeting I have no idea how many kids this adds to the total for Indian Hills. When the initial request was reviewed in the meeting (and, it appeared, rejected) the initial response was that it was 60-some kids but that doesn't make sense when looking at the number of homes.
Still waiting for the district to publish capacity and projected attendance for the new boundaries after asking in 2 meetings. I'm not sure how we can give meaningful input to the board without having a way to measure equity, a key goal of the committee.
I will post an updated map soon.
Based on some requests from a family in the Reedville boundary to keep them with their neighborhood the boundary has been extended down to below SW Trelane from Johnson. This adds 59 houses into the Indian Hills boundary from what was presented in Plan 6 and approved in the working meeting last week.
Since this change was not discussed fully in the working meeting I have no idea how many kids this adds to the total for Indian Hills. When the initial request was reviewed in the meeting (and, it appeared, rejected) the initial response was that it was 60-some kids but that doesn't make sense when looking at the number of homes.
Still waiting for the district to publish capacity and projected attendance for the new boundaries after asking in 2 meetings. I'm not sure how we can give meaningful input to the board without having a way to measure equity, a key goal of the committee.
I will post an updated map soon.
Monday, January 14, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Straight Talk Summary of Board Work Session
Straight Talk - School Board Boundary Work Session
Board member John Peterson has put up a post at Hugh's Straight Talk blog about the meeting Tuesday night.
It is a must read for anyone that wants insight into the discussions around two critical decisions I have only briefly mentioned here, the policy for student transfers and the critical decision to reduce Jackson enrollment.
As John mentions, the transparency and health of the process are noteworthy and the district, board and parents are to be commended.
Board member John Peterson has put up a post at Hugh's Straight Talk blog about the meeting Tuesday night.
It is a must read for anyone that wants insight into the discussions around two critical decisions I have only briefly mentioned here, the policy for student transfers and the critical decision to reduce Jackson enrollment.
As John mentions, the transparency and health of the process are noteworthy and the district, board and parents are to be commended.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Board Progress Review Minutes
Interesting meeting, first time I have seen the board in action, lots of viewpoints articulated and back and forth discussion. There was much concern about the transfer process but I wanted to focus on the main boundary issue here tonight, 2 main topics: Jackson and #27 boundary.
The board continually came back to the main goals of the boundary process: align feeders, balance enrollment.
The first issue was reducing enrollment at Jackson which received so much attention earlier in the process. The board made it clear that the committee should make a recommendation and address the issue of overcrowding at Jackson now. One board member pointed out that, in all likelihood, some of the same parents complaining about leaving Jackson were complaining about overcrowding at the school in the recent past. If Jackson isn't fixed now, it will just delay the necessary. Direction: Reduce Jackson enrollment.
The second issue was with proposed boundaries for school #27. The main concern expressed by board members was that the plan was to temporarily move Ladd Acres kids into #27 then, eventually, move them back. This would result in kids moving from Century feeder (Ladd Acres) to Hilhi feeder (#27) then back to Century. This was understandably a sticking point as it would create another 'portable' community. One board member clearly stated that she had a problem with the temporary move, but had no problem with kids from north of TV hwy staying at #27, it was the flip-flopping that disturbed committee members. They recognized that overcrowding at Ladd Acres needs addressed.
Unfortunately, it seemed that Mr. Pérez summarized the concerns as "Pull #27 students from Hilhi feeder, fix Ladd Acres by moving students within Century feeder". I hope I misunderstood his summary. It could have just as easily been summarized as "Pull #27 students from Ladd Acres permanently, send them to Hilhi feeder". There was a suggestion that there was some room in Tobias despite the reality that there are plans for 198 homes inside the Tobias boundary based on current permits from 2007, land is being cleared for the 2 largest developments right now. There is a 75 home development actively building inside Indian Hills boundary right now.
With the direction as summarized by Mr. Pérez, if I understood his statement correctly, the schools inside the Brown/Century feeder are going to be asked to shift students around without getting any relief from the new school.
Are the needs of imaginary students that will eventually occupy #27 in S. Hillsboro taking priority over the needs of real students north of TV highway currently stuffed into Reedville, Ladd Acres and Imlay and, soon to be stuffed in Tobias and Indian Hills?
I hope not.
If #27 is expected to quickly fill in from S. Hillsboro, I would like to see data showing when those 600 kids will materialize - how was the model created and is it realistic? It is a grand vision that is a long way from producing actual results, especially given the current economic trends.
I imagine a future blog post, a few years from now, simply a picture of school #27 sitting all alone, surrounded by empty fields, with a few Head Start buses in the parking lot, otherwise empty.
The board continually came back to the main goals of the boundary process: align feeders, balance enrollment.
The first issue was reducing enrollment at Jackson which received so much attention earlier in the process. The board made it clear that the committee should make a recommendation and address the issue of overcrowding at Jackson now. One board member pointed out that, in all likelihood, some of the same parents complaining about leaving Jackson were complaining about overcrowding at the school in the recent past. If Jackson isn't fixed now, it will just delay the necessary. Direction: Reduce Jackson enrollment.
The second issue was with proposed boundaries for school #27. The main concern expressed by board members was that the plan was to temporarily move Ladd Acres kids into #27 then, eventually, move them back. This would result in kids moving from Century feeder (Ladd Acres) to Hilhi feeder (#27) then back to Century. This was understandably a sticking point as it would create another 'portable' community. One board member clearly stated that she had a problem with the temporary move, but had no problem with kids from north of TV hwy staying at #27, it was the flip-flopping that disturbed committee members. They recognized that overcrowding at Ladd Acres needs addressed.
Unfortunately, it seemed that Mr. Pérez summarized the concerns as "Pull #27 students from Hilhi feeder, fix Ladd Acres by moving students within Century feeder". I hope I misunderstood his summary. It could have just as easily been summarized as "Pull #27 students from Ladd Acres permanently, send them to Hilhi feeder". There was a suggestion that there was some room in Tobias despite the reality that there are plans for 198 homes inside the Tobias boundary based on current permits from 2007, land is being cleared for the 2 largest developments right now. There is a 75 home development actively building inside Indian Hills boundary right now.
With the direction as summarized by Mr. Pérez, if I understood his statement correctly, the schools inside the Brown/Century feeder are going to be asked to shift students around without getting any relief from the new school.
Are the needs of imaginary students that will eventually occupy #27 in S. Hillsboro taking priority over the needs of real students north of TV highway currently stuffed into Reedville, Ladd Acres and Imlay and, soon to be stuffed in Tobias and Indian Hills?
I hope not.
If #27 is expected to quickly fill in from S. Hillsboro, I would like to see data showing when those 600 kids will materialize - how was the model created and is it realistic? It is a grand vision that is a long way from producing actual results, especially given the current economic trends.
I imagine a future blog post, a few years from now, simply a picture of school #27 sitting all alone, surrounded by empty fields, with a few Head Start buses in the parking lot, otherwise empty.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Meeting: Board Progress Review
Boundary Committee Board Work Session
January 8, 2008
(Tuesday, 6:00– 8:00 p.m.)
Board Room
Hillsboro School Administration Center (map)
3083 NE 49th Place
Hillsboro, OR 97124-6009
Phone: 503-844-1500
There will be NO PUBLIC COMMENT at this meeting, it will be the committee answering Board member questions and reviewing current status and open issues. This is a progress report, not the final version for review. When the final version is submitted, there will be time for public comment to the board.
January 8, 2008
(Tuesday, 6:00– 8:00 p.m.)
Board Room
Hillsboro School Administration Center (map)
3083 NE 49th Place
Hillsboro, OR 97124-6009
Phone: 503-844-1500
There will be NO PUBLIC COMMENT at this meeting, it will be the committee answering Board member questions and reviewing current status and open issues. This is a progress report, not the final version for review. When the final version is submitted, there will be time for public comment to the board.
Transfer Process - Liberal but within the rules
The committee talked briefly about transfers and the process to ensure it is equitable. It was noted that transfers will have to arrange transport outside of the school bus system.
Transfers for elementary and middle schools will be limited by capacity of the target school. Given enough space at the target school, the plan is to be liberal in order to give kids continuity. They emphasized that it is important that the school not ask a student to change schools while, right next to him, there is an existing student that is a transfer from a year ago that doesn't move. So all transfers must be re-reviewed.
For High Schoolers it was agreed that they can be grandfathered into the school once they have started at the school by submitting a transfer request. It is much easier for HS to absorb additional kids and they have strong attachments around sports and other activities.
Of course, if a student knows they will be transferring later, they can apply for early transfer.
Transfers for elementary and middle schools will be limited by capacity of the target school. Given enough space at the target school, the plan is to be liberal in order to give kids continuity. They emphasized that it is important that the school not ask a student to change schools while, right next to him, there is an existing student that is a transfer from a year ago that doesn't move. So all transfers must be re-reviewed.
For High Schoolers it was agreed that they can be grandfathered into the school once they have started at the school by submitting a transfer request. It is much easier for HS to absorb additional kids and they have strong attachments around sports and other activities.
Of course, if a student knows they will be transferring later, they can apply for early transfer.
Work Session #6
Blogging from the meeting room with my new Cingular wireless connection...
Most of the effort in this meeting centered around looking at boundaries for the new ES#27 to be constructed on 229th south of TV highway - this is very relevant to the schools north of the highway since S. Hillsboro will take years to build in.
The draft boundary would take a chunk of Ladd Acres west of Imlay Street combined with a section of Witch Hazel north of TV highway and combine with the rural areas south of the new school.
This change will likely be presented to the board tomorrow as Plan 6 modified.
IHBN thought: It doesn't make sense to look at boundaries without a plan to fill the newest elementary school in the area - this is an important fact that the committee has recognized. No one can predict how quickly S. Hillsboro will develop and the relief is desperately needed at Ladd Acres and Imlay. The issues this will create will need to be confronted.
Most of the effort in this meeting centered around looking at boundaries for the new ES#27 to be constructed on 229th south of TV highway - this is very relevant to the schools north of the highway since S. Hillsboro will take years to build in.
The draft boundary would take a chunk of Ladd Acres west of Imlay Street combined with a section of Witch Hazel north of TV highway and combine with the rural areas south of the new school.
This change will likely be presented to the board tomorrow as Plan 6 modified.
IHBN thought: It doesn't make sense to look at boundaries without a plan to fill the newest elementary school in the area - this is an important fact that the committee has recognized. No one can predict how quickly S. Hillsboro will develop and the relief is desperately needed at Ladd Acres and Imlay. The issues this will create will need to be confronted.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Community Meeting #5 at Century
Tonight's meeting was focused on the latino community but was bilingual so everyone could follow along. Plan 6 was presented but did not included detailed maps as have been presented for Plan 3.
There was good turnout with some comments from parents.
One parent expressed concern about some postings on the internet that were less than favorable towards an increase in spanish language students at Eastwood. He challenged the hispanic community to reach out and change perceptions.
There was also some concern about resources being available for ESL teaching and other programs like BLAST at Peter Boscow and the parent was reassured that the district would review those resources and make sure that nothing was lost in the transition.
Several other parents were concerned about keeping standards high for the kids and ensuring that school quality based on state tests was maintained - more of a general concern about really challenging hispanic kids in the schools. Mr. Pérez suggested that perhaps the district should bring the superintendent and some other district representatives back in another meeting to hear those kinds of concerns.
There were also some concerns about racism that might be brought out by school changes and what the district was doing to address the problem. Mr. Pérez pointed out that racism is a community issue as opposed to a school issue and that the district would make sure teachers had appropriate training to properly address any racism that might be encountered in the school environment.
After the meeting, one of the parents from Eastwood asked if we had heard the comment by the first parent and she wanted to reassure him that the school was an 'open arms' school. I think he was a little surprised when she approached him and (with some translation help from Mr. Pérez) expressed concern. The parent made it clear that he didn't feel that it was a reflection on Eastwood in general but wanted to make sure his children would feel welcomed at Eastwood.
There was good turnout with some comments from parents.
One parent expressed concern about some postings on the internet that were less than favorable towards an increase in spanish language students at Eastwood. He challenged the hispanic community to reach out and change perceptions.
There was also some concern about resources being available for ESL teaching and other programs like BLAST at Peter Boscow and the parent was reassured that the district would review those resources and make sure that nothing was lost in the transition.
Several other parents were concerned about keeping standards high for the kids and ensuring that school quality based on state tests was maintained - more of a general concern about really challenging hispanic kids in the schools. Mr. Pérez suggested that perhaps the district should bring the superintendent and some other district representatives back in another meeting to hear those kinds of concerns.
There were also some concerns about racism that might be brought out by school changes and what the district was doing to address the problem. Mr. Pérez pointed out that racism is a community issue as opposed to a school issue and that the district would make sure teachers had appropriate training to properly address any racism that might be encountered in the school environment.
After the meeting, one of the parents from Eastwood asked if we had heard the comment by the first parent and she wanted to reassure him that the school was an 'open arms' school. I think he was a little surprised when she approached him and (with some translation help from Mr. Pérez) expressed concern. The parent made it clear that he didn't feel that it was a reflection on Eastwood in general but wanted to make sure his children would feel welcomed at Eastwood.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Last Community Meeting This Thurs 6:30p
Community Meeting #5, Final (bilingual)
December 20, 2007
(Thursday, 6:30-7:30p.m.)
Note earlier time than usual
Century High School (map)
2000 SE Century Blvd.
Hillsboro, OR 97123-8390
For more info on the process, go here (link).
Bilingual meeting, and the first to show a significant change from Plan 3.
December 20, 2007
(Thursday, 6:30-7:30p.m.)
Note earlier time than usual
Century High School (map)
2000 SE Century Blvd.
Hillsboro, OR 97123-8390
For more info on the process, go here (link).
Bilingual meeting, and the first to show a significant change from Plan 3.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Working Session #5: Good for Ladd Acres and Indian Hills
New boundaries were shown that will be presented at the bilingual meeting on Thursday at Century.
1) Apartments and condos at corner of Brookwood and TV Hwy go back to Witch Hazel anticipating space available with ES 27 coming in soon south of TV Hwy.
2) 'Portable' Ladd Acres neighborhood stays in Ladd Acres. (yay!)
3) Indian Hills boundary stays as presented in Plan 3, but loses the northern end of the add from east of 198th which now show as moved to Tobias. This was apparently done before the Ladd families were moved back to Ladd and likely will come back to Indian Hills, about 25 kids. Plan 6 shows us coming down to estimated 393 students from 507 in plan 3a, adding those kids will leave us just over 400 students, an add of about 2 classes to where we are now with the Copperleaf development gradually phasing in one more class over the next 2 years for a total add of 3 classes.
These changes depend on whether they will work out the new boundaries for ES #27 south of TV Hwy to include Ladd Acres families near Brookwood eventually.
Updated map, click to zoom (new map program so it is a little more plain)
Many other areas improved, hot spots may have been created in other places but overall a general improvement. I would be interested in hearing from Eastwood parents after the Thurs meeting on how they feel about the change.
David Hill came up again with the plan showing some going back to Farmington View but that was pulled back and likely will be the same as Plan 3.
1) Apartments and condos at corner of Brookwood and TV Hwy go back to Witch Hazel anticipating space available with ES 27 coming in soon south of TV Hwy.
2) 'Portable' Ladd Acres neighborhood stays in Ladd Acres. (yay!)
3) Indian Hills boundary stays as presented in Plan 3, but loses the northern end of the add from east of 198th which now show as moved to Tobias. This was apparently done before the Ladd families were moved back to Ladd and likely will come back to Indian Hills, about 25 kids. Plan 6 shows us coming down to estimated 393 students from 507 in plan 3a, adding those kids will leave us just over 400 students, an add of about 2 classes to where we are now with the Copperleaf development gradually phasing in one more class over the next 2 years for a total add of 3 classes.
These changes depend on whether they will work out the new boundaries for ES #27 south of TV Hwy to include Ladd Acres families near Brookwood eventually.
Updated map, click to zoom (new map program so it is a little more plain)
Many other areas improved, hot spots may have been created in other places but overall a general improvement. I would be interested in hearing from Eastwood parents after the Thurs meeting on how they feel about the change.
David Hill came up again with the plan showing some going back to Farmington View but that was pulled back and likely will be the same as Plan 3.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Community Meeting #4: Mark Finally Speaks
After sitting on the sidelines and lobbing out blog posts, I finally decided to comment (since it was the last official community meeting). Following were my spoken comments (note that I am just as wordy when speaking as I am when typing):
First of all I want to thank Mr. Pérez and the committee, this has been a very open and responsive process so far. I’ve been at a lot of the meetings and am impressed by the amount of involvement that they have allowed the community to have.
I also appreciate the consideration given to Indian Hills early in the process. There were many of us being moved out of the boundary that were very concerned about it and the committee listened and responded and we appreciate that.
It’s clear that Indian Hills needs to help relieve some of the pressure in neighboring schools. I think the school, the staff, the parents and the kids understand that and welcome, at a certain level, the opportunity to grow.
However, I believe that Plan #3A, adjusted, overcrowds our school – we look at the addition of the Ladd Acres families on the west side and the folks east of 198th and then this Copperleaf subdivision, which is just right across from Brown here. When I calculate it all out and add in Kinders, it looks like it is going to be 6 additional classes and it is going to take us to about 96 or 97 percent capacity or higher. We’re concerned that we’re possibly going to lose room for small groups to meet, we’ve got a computer room and a staff room that we would have to give up to accommodate those kinds of numbers.
Another concern is when we look at Quatama and where it is going in - it doesn’t feel like the other schools are getting good relief from that new school. I see the numbers in Orenco dropping quite a bit but don’t really see a movement of Tobias students over there to ripple the relief across to Reedville, which we know has been extremely overcrowded for many years. I think it follows through on the other side when we look at Brookwood and Eastwood schools which are right up, again, against the Quatama border - it doesn’t seem that any relief is propagating out from that new school, and that’s a concern.
When I look at slide 15, which shows the current numbers and future numbers, it’s very hard for me to make any sense from that because I know it only represents 1-6 graders, and we know there are going to be Kinders, it’s a number greater than zero, they are going to be in our schools.
The other thing that is missing is current capacity. The latest capacity data that I have been able to find is on the website and it is from 2006. I know that portables have been moved into some schools and so that has changed but it makes it very difficult for me as a parent in the district to really evaluate this proposal without knowing what the end result is going to be based on capacity.
What I’m looking for is some sort of official summary from the committee that includes:
1) current verified capacity. Does that include portables? Are those portables going to be moved? Are additional portables going to be moved in?
2) something that accounts for Kinders, it looks like it’s around 15% of grades 1-6. It seems like there should be some way to add that into the data
3) also, something that shows us what the expected growth for each school is. I know that Orenco, with Quatama coming in, is coming down to about 60%. They are extremely crowded now but they are going to come down significantly. I know there is going to be growth in that area but what number is the committee looking at to understand that and make sure that the boundaries are optimal for the growth and that we’re not counting on more growth than will occur, especially given the current economic situation?
We just want to make sure that the bond money being spent benefits all schools, not just a few neighborhoods.
Finally, to families that are being added to Indian Hills, we know that there are some that will be added, sorry if we are not your first choice for your children, we understand the desire to stay in the school you are currently in - that is perfectly understandable: We will welcome you with open arms…if there is enough room to actually open our arms.
I heard someone ask Mr. Pérez “If you’re moving us to Indian Hills what will you do to make sure that it stays a high quality school?” I’m sure Mr. Pérez will answer the same [way] he does for any school in the district, we will get a building with facilities, transportation, high quality administrative staff, 1 great teacher for every 26 students. That’s what the taxpayers allow him to give us.
My question back to parents coming into Indian Hills is “If you are coming to our school, what will YOU do to make sure that Indian Hills STAYS an exceptional school?”
And for anyone that is wondering, yes, I will be going to the spanish language meeting at Century.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Community Meeting #4
December 13, 2007
(Thursday, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.)
RA Brown Middle School (map)
1505 SW Cornelius Pass Road
Hillsboro, OR 97123-6727
For more info on the process, go here (link).
Latest numbers show Indian Hills just short of 100% occupancy which could threaten the ability of small groups to meet, affect teacher staff room and computer room. Please come and comment if this concerns you.
December 13, 2007
(Thursday, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.)
RA Brown Middle School (map)
1505 SW Cornelius Pass Road
Hillsboro, OR 97123-6727
For more info on the process, go here (link).
Latest numbers show Indian Hills just short of 100% occupancy which could threaten the ability of small groups to meet, affect teacher staff room and computer room. Please come and comment if this concerns you.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Community Meeting #3: Temperatures Rising
Strong turnout from Brookwood and Eastwood parents (and lots of teachers!) at tonights meeting, otherwise a repeat performance from previous meetings. Number of parents from Ladd Acres speaking increased.
Deputy Superintendent Pérez mentioned that he has been getting a lot of heated email and that he wanted to keep the emotion out of the discussion as much as possible. He even apologized later when he contradicted a parent's statement.
Confirmed that Plan #3 adjusted number for Indian Hills shown below is correct to within a couple students, briefly spoke with a committee member about the concern with overcrowding at IH and was told that would be a topic at the next working meeting but it is clear that the primary focus will be Eastwood/Brookwood.
Will be checking the district website for updated slides that show all new school numbers.
Deputy Superintendent Pérez mentioned that he has been getting a lot of heated email and that he wanted to keep the emotion out of the discussion as much as possible. He even apologized later when he contradicted a parent's statement.
Confirmed that Plan #3 adjusted number for Indian Hills shown below is correct to within a couple students, briefly spoke with a committee member about the concern with overcrowding at IH and was told that would be a topic at the next working meeting but it is clear that the primary focus will be Eastwood/Brookwood.
Will be checking the district website for updated slides that show all new school numbers.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Community Meeting #3 - Monday
Community Meeting #3
December 10, 2007
(Monday, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.)
Poynter Middle School (map)
1535 NE Grant Street
Hillsboro, OR 97124-3421
For more info on the process, go here (link).
Indian Hills has a big impact of 66 students added for a total of 112 additional enrollment [ed - grades 1-6 only] from current boundary levels. Please plan on participating in this meeting.
[ed - bumped to top]
December 10, 2007
(Monday, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.)
Poynter Middle School (map)
1535 NE Grant Street
Hillsboro, OR 97124-3421
For more info on the process, go here (link).
Indian Hills has a big impact of 66 students added for a total of 112 additional enrollment [ed - grades 1-6 only] from current boundary levels. Please plan on participating in this meeting.
[ed - bumped to top]
Monday, December 3, 2007
Working Session #4 - Indian Hills Big Add
Quick update before I eat dinner:
The only key decision made in today's working session was to add Ladd Acres students back into Indian Hills and this will be presented as Plan #5 next Monday and Thursday at Community Meetings. This adds 66 students to 46 added east of 198th (2 more kids being added south of Johnson) for a total add to current enrollment of 112 students.
There are no work sessions planned prior to those meetings so there are unlikely to be any changes made unless it happens behind the curtain.
I will add to this post as I can, email went out to PTO mail list to share the update. I encourage those who are best in touch with the impact of adding 27% to current enrollment to put together a statement for the next meeting in one week, Monday night at Poynter.
Bad News: No resolution on Eastwood/Brookwood. The committee seems resigned to Plan #3 boundaries for the schools after devoting most of 2 working sessions to the problem. They briefly considered sending Brookwood to Brown/Century but nothing was established and no changes going into the next Community meetings for the 2 school boundaries from Plan #3.
The only key decision made in today's working session was to add Ladd Acres students back into Indian Hills and this will be presented as Plan #5 next Monday and Thursday at Community Meetings. This adds 66 students to 46 added east of 198th (2 more kids being added south of Johnson) for a total add to current enrollment of 112 students.
There are no work sessions planned prior to those meetings so there are unlikely to be any changes made unless it happens behind the curtain.
I will add to this post as I can, email went out to PTO mail list to share the update. I encourage those who are best in touch with the impact of adding 27% to current enrollment to put together a statement for the next meeting in one week, Monday night at Poynter.
Bad News: No resolution on Eastwood/Brookwood. The committee seems resigned to Plan #3 boundaries for the schools after devoting most of 2 working sessions to the problem. They briefly considered sending Brookwood to Brown/Century but nothing was established and no changes going into the next Community meetings for the 2 school boundaries from Plan #3.
Meeting Notice - Monday Work Session
Boundary Committee Work Session #4
December 3, 2007
(Monday, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.)
Board Room
Hillsboro School Administration Center (map)
3083 NE 49th Place
Hillsboro, OR 97124-6009
Phone: 503-844-1500
For more info on the process, go here (link).
"...the public is invited to attend the boundary committee work sessions, provide brief comment during the citizens’ participation portion, and listen to the committee’s discussions."
December 3, 2007
(Monday, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.)
Board Room
Hillsboro School Administration Center (map)
3083 NE 49th Place
Hillsboro, OR 97124-6009
Phone: 503-844-1500
For more info on the process, go here (link).
"...the public is invited to attend the boundary committee work sessions, provide brief comment during the citizens’ participation portion, and listen to the committee’s discussions."
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Public Meeting #2: Visible Progress
IHBoundary Comments:
No changes announced for any boundary from Plan #3.
From the start of today's meeting it was clear that the process is running much smoother on the committee side and that parents are getting more engaged. Both are good for the district. About 100 were in attendance per my 4th grader's count.
Robin's presentation was very much improved since public meeting #1, no doubt it required a lot of work to prepare but it was worth it - crisp clear pages with a laser pointer to guide the attendees through the plan. It amazes me how many of the details are in her head, she must dream of every little cul de sac and development in the district at night.
Indian Hills Team Spirit
There was at least one parent from Indian Hills who spoke up and urged the committee to leave Indian Hills unchanged, he has 5 kids in the boundary. He thanked the committee for their hard work. One parent who is currently in Reedville commented that all of the kids in her neighborhood will be at Indian Hills and requested their small cul de sac with 2 kids be moved with the bulk of the neighborhood to IH. More detail on that later.
Intro by Deputy Superintendent Pérez
Nice smooth intro, he hit all of the major themes that are hot buttons for parents and the real driving factors in the boundary change process. He did well later in the session when parents directly addressed questions to him, very straightforward and clear answers. Map presentation was much clearer as mentioned.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jackson
Parents For Jackson, apparently in unity with folks from the area south of Evergreen between 15th and Jackson School - they were nicely organized and had a clear message. They have hit the streets in the neighborhood with 200 fliers with many opposing the plan #3 boundary. They asked the committee to consider the need for a rich social environment, strong ties with the neighborhoods, sports, playgroups, etc. Friends will be much further away, geographically grouped areas are important for social interaction. The parents preferred Plan 1/2 which moved apartments out of Jackson. I think they went off course when they stated that it would be easier for apartments to move than home owners, and that they are more supportive of school activities. They ended up sounding like "let's move the poor people". A later commenter noted that kids in apartments already have enough instability, school can be the one stable element in their life.
Another parent from Jackson later commented on the need for kids to be able to walk to a neighborhood school, some parents don't have good transportation options, it also improves after-school activities. She noted that they had picked their home partially based on being inside the Jackson boundary and would appreciate at very least some sort of "grandfather" policy to allow kids to finish with the school they started with.
Ladd Acres to Tobias
One parent (a constant attender at almost all meetings to-date) noted that the designation of the section moving out of Ladd Acres as "portable" should apply to all neighborhoods on buses, not just the Ladd Acres families. Another parent from the area noted that Tobias state test scores are much lower than other schools in the area and that bullying is an issue for kids waiting for daycare buses at Tobias. She also noted that there is no way for kids to safely cross Corn Pass if walking.
Hilhi to Liberty, drop in Hilhi enrollment concerns
One parent from Brookwood noted that youth programs at elementary levels lead to participation in HS programs, they create relationships with adults that impact them positively and follow them as they move into HS.Liberty Hillsboro
Another parent was concerned about the impact to Hilhi; he had seen big shifts when Century andLiberty opened
Another Brookwood/Hilhi parent had questions for DS Pérez:
When you reduce numbers in a school, what effect does it have on a school?
CP – Anytime you drop a school enrollment it impacts number of teachers based on teacher/student ratio requirements as well as funds, budgetary impact to school.
Is there a timeline to make up the drop in attendance at Hilhi?
CP – there are a number of areas that will be growing, Witchhazel has grown, plus areas in South Hillsboro reserve that will be coming in with Metro boundary change pending. Continued infill expected where parcel goes from 1 home to 6 homes, higher density phenomenon. The district averages .5 kids for every residence.
Parent concluded with comments about Hilhi, noting as another parent did that since Century was added they have battled getting parental support, improving test scores, etc. Encourages committee to consider impact to neighborhoods and keep them intact. A kid at Hilhi should have the same opportunity as kids at any other HS. Parents that have to drive a long distance don’t engage as much in school activities.
A parent from Bald Peak explored the impact of factors like SES and student language on decision process, directed to DS Pérez, concerned about impact on Hilhi.
CP - language or ethnicity not a factor, for example ELL (English Language Learner) is a constantly moving number, not easy to measure and thus not very useful in a boundary decision and has been a very limited consideration in the current process. SES is easily determined by applications for free/reduced lunch. The district is not going to 'gerrymander' areas to balance SES, only will look at contiguous areas or those in close proximity to a boundary line. SES is definitely part of the equation, one school may be at 70% and another at 30%, if that can be mitigated, they will try to reduce, not looking for a particular goal number. Eastwood is an example, plan #3 increases SES % significantly and that is a factor.
David Hill/Boscow Barnes
Finally, one parent inquired about SES (lunch assistance) ratios for Boscow Barnes and she believes it is very high. She noted that there are big differences in schools just in fund raising: David Hill was able to raise only $7k recently while a neighboring school raised ~$40k in comparison. [ed. - I think IH was at about $10k per the same metric] She also made a passionate statement about how kids in apartments need stability as noted above, very articulate and moving.
Final IHBN Thought:
I'm worried about David Hill and Boscow Barnes families. They already feel excluded because their school identity is being destroyed, Farmington View doesn't want the David Hill kids and they are being treated like the proverbial red-headed stepchild. Schools in the district should be welcoming these families - community extends beyond school boundary lines.
Note: These notes are based on my own observations, I will review the official minutes when they are published and make any needed corrections. It isn't always easy to hear every word of every comment. If you have any corrections, please let me know and I will correct any factual errors immediately.
No changes announced for any boundary from Plan #3.
From the start of today's meeting it was clear that the process is running much smoother on the committee side and that parents are getting more engaged. Both are good for the district. About 100 were in attendance per my 4th grader's count.
Robin's presentation was very much improved since public meeting #1, no doubt it required a lot of work to prepare but it was worth it - crisp clear pages with a laser pointer to guide the attendees through the plan. It amazes me how many of the details are in her head, she must dream of every little cul de sac and development in the district at night.
Indian Hills Team Spirit
There was at least one parent from Indian Hills who spoke up and urged the committee to leave Indian Hills unchanged, he has 5 kids in the boundary. He thanked the committee for their hard work. One parent who is currently in Reedville commented that all of the kids in her neighborhood will be at Indian Hills and requested their small cul de sac with 2 kids be moved with the bulk of the neighborhood to IH. More detail on that later.
Intro by Deputy Superintendent Pérez
Nice smooth intro, he hit all of the major themes that are hot buttons for parents and the real driving factors in the boundary change process. He did well later in the session when parents directly addressed questions to him, very straightforward and clear answers. Map presentation was much clearer as mentioned.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Jackson
Parents For Jackson, apparently in unity with folks from the area south of Evergreen between 15th and Jackson School - they were nicely organized and had a clear message. They have hit the streets in the neighborhood with 200 fliers with many opposing the plan #3 boundary. They asked the committee to consider the need for a rich social environment, strong ties with the neighborhoods, sports, playgroups, etc. Friends will be much further away, geographically grouped areas are important for social interaction. The parents preferred Plan 1/2 which moved apartments out of Jackson. I think they went off course when they stated that it would be easier for apartments to move than home owners, and that they are more supportive of school activities. They ended up sounding like "let's move the poor people". A later commenter noted that kids in apartments already have enough instability, school can be the one stable element in their life.
Another parent from Jackson later commented on the need for kids to be able to walk to a neighborhood school, some parents don't have good transportation options, it also improves after-school activities. She noted that they had picked their home partially based on being inside the Jackson boundary and would appreciate at very least some sort of "grandfather" policy to allow kids to finish with the school they started with.
Ladd Acres to Tobias
One parent (a constant attender at almost all meetings to-date) noted that the designation of the section moving out of Ladd Acres as "portable" should apply to all neighborhoods on buses, not just the Ladd Acres families. Another parent from the area noted that Tobias state test scores are much lower than other schools in the area and that bullying is an issue for kids waiting for daycare buses at Tobias. She also noted that there is no way for kids to safely cross Corn Pass if walking.
Hilhi to Liberty, drop in Hilhi enrollment concerns
One parent from Brookwood noted that youth programs at elementary levels lead to participation in HS programs, they create relationships with adults that impact them positively and follow them as they move into HS.
Another parent was concerned about the impact to Hilhi; he had seen big shifts when Century and
Another Brookwood/Hilhi parent had questions for DS Pérez:
When you reduce numbers in a school, what effect does it have on a school?
CP – Anytime you drop a school enrollment it impacts number of teachers based on teacher/student ratio requirements as well as funds, budgetary impact to school.
Is there a timeline to make up the drop in attendance at Hilhi?
CP – there are a number of areas that will be growing, Witchhazel has grown, plus areas in South Hillsboro reserve that will be coming in with Metro boundary change pending. Continued infill expected where parcel goes from 1 home to 6 homes, higher density phenomenon. The district averages .5 kids for every residence.
Parent concluded with comments about Hilhi, noting as another parent did that since Century was added they have battled getting parental support, improving test scores, etc. Encourages committee to consider impact to neighborhoods and keep them intact. A kid at Hilhi should have the same opportunity as kids at any other HS. Parents that have to drive a long distance don’t engage as much in school activities.
A parent from Bald Peak explored the impact of factors like SES and student language on decision process, directed to DS Pérez, concerned about impact on Hilhi.
CP - language or ethnicity not a factor, for example ELL (English Language Learner) is a constantly moving number, not easy to measure and thus not very useful in a boundary decision and has been a very limited consideration in the current process. SES is easily determined by applications for free/reduced lunch. The district is not going to 'gerrymander' areas to balance SES, only will look at contiguous areas or those in close proximity to a boundary line. SES is definitely part of the equation, one school may be at 70% and another at 30%, if that can be mitigated, they will try to reduce, not looking for a particular goal number. Eastwood is an example, plan #3 increases SES % significantly and that is a factor.
David Hill/Boscow Barnes
Finally, one parent inquired about SES (lunch assistance) ratios for Boscow Barnes and she believes it is very high. She noted that there are big differences in schools just in fund raising: David Hill was able to raise only $7k recently while a neighboring school raised ~$40k in comparison. [ed. - I think IH was at about $10k per the same metric] She also made a passionate statement about how kids in apartments need stability as noted above, very articulate and moving.
Final IHBN Thought:
I'm worried about David Hill and Boscow Barnes families. They already feel excluded because their school identity is being destroyed, Farmington View doesn't want the David Hill kids and they are being treated like the proverbial red-headed stepchild. Schools in the district should be welcoming these families - community extends beyond school boundary lines.
Note: These notes are based on my own observations, I will review the official minutes when they are published and make any needed corrections. It isn't always easy to hear every word of every comment. If you have any corrections, please let me know and I will correct any factual errors immediately.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Meeting Notice - This Thursday
Community Meeting #2
November 29, 2007
(Thursday, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.)
Thomas Middle School Auditorium (map)
645 NE Lincoln Street
Hillsboro, OR 97124-3236
For more info on the process, go here (link).
Committee representatives will be presenting plan #3, same as what was presented at Evergreen (but after last week we know they like to surprise us). They stated they will be addressing concerns about Eastwood and Brookwood specifically but did not plan to present any new maps.
This is a conflict with PTO, I would encourage anyone on the fence to attend the PTO, I don't believe there will be any real revelations at this meeting. I will be attending since the blog demands to be fed.
November 29, 2007
(Thursday, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.)
Thomas Middle School Auditorium (map)
645 NE Lincoln Street
Hillsboro, OR 97124-3236
For more info on the process, go here (link).
Committee representatives will be presenting plan #3, same as what was presented at Evergreen (but after last week we know they like to surprise us). They stated they will be addressing concerns about Eastwood and Brookwood specifically but did not plan to present any new maps.
This is a conflict with PTO, I would encourage anyone on the fence to attend the PTO, I don't believe there will be any real revelations at this meeting. I will be attending since the blog demands to be fed.
Working Meeting #3: A Process, Not An Event
Indian Hills Team Spirit
We had our Energizer Bunny™ PTO officer on hand along with a couple parents (myself included) and a school staff member who came to hear about Indian Hills and discovered that her high schooler may be affected by the change. Note: no changes considered for IH boundary at this meeting.
Intro by Deputy Superintendent Pérez
Carlos addressed parents prior to public comments and let them know that the main focus for the meeting would be addressing concerns from Eastwood and Brookwood parents that came out in Public Meeting #1.
He stated that, while work was going to be done tonight (eventually designated plan #4), Plan #3 would be presented at Thomas on Thursday, the same plan that was shown at Evergreen. He said they would attempt to address the Eastwood and Brookwood concerns at the meeting but would not be showing modified maps. The meeting will be in Thomas auditorium, not the library, based on the Evergreen meeting which was quite crowded.
Public Comments
- A parent from Butternut Creek expressed a desire to change from SouthMeadows/HilHi to Brown/Century since it didn't seem to make sense to drive by Century on the way to take his kids to school and that it seemed like it isolated them from friends in the Reedville area. I see his point, I thought there might be an easier way to get to Hilhi from that neighborhood but TV Hwy is really the most direct route.
- A parent from Eastwood brought up that the part of the Eastwood boundary being removed included many of the most active parents in the school. She also expressed concern that the school was already challenged from a socioeconomic point of view and the plan #3 boundary would only make it worse.
Committee Feedback from Public Meeting #1
Aside from noting the need to move from the library to the auditorium, the committee noted that larger school names on the maps would help and that if there was a 2nd set of maps in the hallway, that may facilitate discussion before and after the meeting. It was also noted that Robin should have her own computer. Carlos said that they would have a computer that he and Robin would share for the presentation and that they would not rely on the VersaTrans school transportation GIS system for presenting but would use slides instead to make the process smoother.
Eastwood and Brookwood
The core meeting started with a close look at the boundary for both schools. Robin noted that planning for this area is very hard because they will take out a single home and turn it into a development with 10 homes. They are considering pulling much of the Eastwood boundary back to original boundary with the exception of areas south of baseline for plan #4. This started a more general discussion of impact on feeders and the balloons began drifting around the room. While the balloons drifted, it was clear that the committee was much more focused than in the last meeting and you could track the process much more clearly.
It was noted several times that, while VersaTrans may spit out an enrollment number, actual enrollment may differ significantly due to transfers and home schooling.
Orenco and Butternut Creek
Because of the need to adjust in other areas, there was some discussion about pulling Orenco out of Brown/Century into Poynter/Liberty and moving Butternut Creek from SouthMeadows/Hilhi to Brown/Century. There was even a single voice briefly asking if Willow Creek should come out of Tobias again (gasp).
Rural vs City and Neighborhood Schools
Carlos briefly spoke up with pointed comments about the difference between a rural lifestyle and city, when parents choose to live in a rural area, they expect to have to travel significant distances for most things, even for school, but sending city kids to a rural school is a major change, parents may not have the necessary options for transportation to a rural school.
He stated that a specific goal was to keep elementary schools as neighborhood schools. Mid and High school families should expect to go further, you can’t always make a school a neighborhood school.
He mentioned that Farmington View parents had made comments about hiring a dedicated math teacher with their own money, and that they don’t want a lot of kids from town brought into the school to the point where it dilutes the efforts they have put in, he offered that maybe they should look at option of some magnets to bring in kids that would benefit the most without overwhelming the current parents efforts.
The principal of David Hill noted that people walk to David Hill because they can, not because they don’t have any other options. That needs to be considered also.
IHBoundary Thoughts
As I have said at least once before, this is a process, not an event. When a major change is required in a single elementary boundary it quickly ricochets around the district and impacts 8 more schools. The committee seemed much more focused in this session and there was less pushing and pulling of Robin as they considered the impact of a smaller set of changes. I was encouraged by the tighter focus and what seemed to be real progress. It also occurred to me that it is critical to stay engaged, nothing is off the table at this point.
Mantra: Process, Not, Event.
We had our Energizer Bunny™ PTO officer on hand along with a couple parents (myself included) and a school staff member who came to hear about Indian Hills and discovered that her high schooler may be affected by the change. Note: no changes considered for IH boundary at this meeting.
Intro by Deputy Superintendent Pérez
Carlos addressed parents prior to public comments and let them know that the main focus for the meeting would be addressing concerns from Eastwood and Brookwood parents that came out in Public Meeting #1.
He stated that, while work was going to be done tonight (eventually designated plan #4), Plan #3 would be presented at Thomas on Thursday, the same plan that was shown at Evergreen. He said they would attempt to address the Eastwood and Brookwood concerns at the meeting but would not be showing modified maps. The meeting will be in Thomas auditorium, not the library, based on the Evergreen meeting which was quite crowded.
Public Comments
- A parent from Butternut Creek expressed a desire to change from SouthMeadows/HilHi to Brown/Century since it didn't seem to make sense to drive by Century on the way to take his kids to school and that it seemed like it isolated them from friends in the Reedville area. I see his point, I thought there might be an easier way to get to Hilhi from that neighborhood but TV Hwy is really the most direct route.
- A parent from Eastwood brought up that the part of the Eastwood boundary being removed included many of the most active parents in the school. She also expressed concern that the school was already challenged from a socioeconomic point of view and the plan #3 boundary would only make it worse.
Committee Feedback from Public Meeting #1
Aside from noting the need to move from the library to the auditorium, the committee noted that larger school names on the maps would help and that if there was a 2nd set of maps in the hallway, that may facilitate discussion before and after the meeting. It was also noted that Robin should have her own computer. Carlos said that they would have a computer that he and Robin would share for the presentation and that they would not rely on the VersaTrans school transportation GIS system for presenting but would use slides instead to make the process smoother.
Eastwood and Brookwood
The core meeting started with a close look at the boundary for both schools. Robin noted that planning for this area is very hard because they will take out a single home and turn it into a development with 10 homes. They are considering pulling much of the Eastwood boundary back to original boundary with the exception of areas south of baseline for plan #4. This started a more general discussion of impact on feeders and the balloons began drifting around the room. While the balloons drifted, it was clear that the committee was much more focused than in the last meeting and you could track the process much more clearly.
It was noted several times that, while VersaTrans may spit out an enrollment number, actual enrollment may differ significantly due to transfers and home schooling.
Orenco and Butternut Creek
Because of the need to adjust in other areas, there was some discussion about pulling Orenco out of Brown/Century into Poynter/Liberty and moving Butternut Creek from SouthMeadows/Hilhi to Brown/Century. There was even a single voice briefly asking if Willow Creek should come out of Tobias again (gasp).
Rural vs City and Neighborhood Schools
Carlos briefly spoke up with pointed comments about the difference between a rural lifestyle and city, when parents choose to live in a rural area, they expect to have to travel significant distances for most things, even for school, but sending city kids to a rural school is a major change, parents may not have the necessary options for transportation to a rural school.
He stated that a specific goal was to keep elementary schools as neighborhood schools. Mid and High school families should expect to go further, you can’t always make a school a neighborhood school.
He mentioned that Farmington View parents had made comments about hiring a dedicated math teacher with their own money, and that they don’t want a lot of kids from town brought into the school to the point where it dilutes the efforts they have put in, he offered that maybe they should look at option of some magnets to bring in kids that would benefit the most without overwhelming the current parents efforts.
The principal of David Hill noted that people walk to David Hill because they can, not because they don’t have any other options. That needs to be considered also.
IHBoundary Thoughts
As I have said at least once before, this is a process, not an event. When a major change is required in a single elementary boundary it quickly ricochets around the district and impacts 8 more schools. The committee seemed much more focused in this session and there was less pushing and pulling of Robin as they considered the impact of a smaller set of changes. I was encouraged by the tighter focus and what seemed to be real progress. It also occurred to me that it is critical to stay engaged, nothing is off the table at this point.
Mantra: Process, Not, Event.
Next Community Meeting –
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
