Superintendent Dave Allison, Ed.D.

GPS Governing Board President EJ Anderson Clerk Lily Tram Members Staci Burk Helen Hollands Blake A. Sacha

September 18, 2012

Dear Parents, This letter, regarding the proposed repurposing of Gilbert Junior High School and proposed junior high school boundary changes, is being sent to the parents of Gilbert Junior High School students as well as to the parents of 6th Grade students who would attend Gilbert Junior High School in the 2013-2014 school year. Here are a few details of the proposed changes. During the past two years, a five-year Strategic Plan for Gilbert Public Schools has been developed. This plan will assist Gilbert Public Schools to continue to provide a quality education program during the next five years and beyond. The Strategic Plan was approved by the Governing Board on June 18, 2012 with implementation of certain sections of the Plan to begin on July 1, 2012. Because of the shifting demographics of the District, part of the Strategic Plan outlines how Gilbert Public Schools will deal with the use of school facilities. Over time, enrollment in some areas of the District has declined while other areas enrollment has increased. For example, the attendance area of Gilbert Junior High School is one of those areas where enrollment has decreased. One of the Strategic Plan's proposed actions on how to deal with a decrease in enrollment is to repurpose a school to make better use of the educational facilities. The Gilbert Classical Academy (GCA) which houses Grade 7 to 12 students has been highly successful in the five years it has been operating. The waiting list for students to enter at the 7th Grade is well over 100 students. Presently, the Gilbert Classical Academy is located in the northern section of the old Greenfield Elementary campus which is at the northeast corner of the Greenfield - Elliot intersection. The present Gilbert Classical Academy campus cannot be expanded even though there is more demand than there are student places. A larger campus is needed. Because Gilbert Junior High School continues to have a decline in enrollment, and because of its location, it has been selected as the junior high school to repurpose. The recommendation, therefore, is that the present Gilbert Junior High School campus would become the Gilbert Classical Academy beginning July 1, 2013. Present Grade 7 students at Gilbert Junior High School and present Grade 6 students who would attend Gilbert Junior High School during the 2013-14 school year are the students directly affected by this action. The majority of Grade 7 students and incoming Grade 6 students would be accommodated at Mesquite Junior High School and Greenfield Junior High School which are the two junior high schools closest to Gilbert Junior High School. A small number of students would be moved to Highland Junior High School. The end result of this plan is

140 South Gilbert Road Gilbert, AZ 85296 Phone 480.497.3300 www.gilbertschools.net