SummaryofCommunityEngagementMeetingsonthe ProposedAdvancedAcademicProgramExpansion

PreparedforSchoolBoardWorkSession,December10,2012 Approximately900parentsandcitizensparticipatedinthreecommunitydialoguesheldon November27,28,and29atWestfieldHighSchool,LeeHighSchool,andKilmerMiddleSchool, respectively.Themeetingswereorganizedbycluster:approximately300attendedthemeeting forClusters6,7,and8onNovember27;approximately100attendedthemeetingforClusters4 and5onNovember28;andapproximately500attendedthemeetingforClusters1,2,and3on November29. Atotalof134groupfeedbackformsand240individualfeedbackformswerecollectedfromthe threemeetings.Everyformwasscannedin,organizedbyclusterandbyschool,andisavailable onBoardDocs.Inaddition,asummarysheetwascreatedbystaffforeachschoolandisalso availablewiththescannedinfeedbackforms.Finally,thissummarysheetwascreatedby gatheringinformationfromtheschoolsummariesandprovidesahighleveloverviewofthe mostfrequentlyheardcomments.Forspecificschoolrelatedcomments,thepublicandthe SchoolBoardareinvitedtodrilldowntotheschoolsummariesandtotheindividualandgroup feedbackformspostedonBoardDocs. Benefits Keepsstudentsinsamepyramidfromelementarytohighschool AdditionofAAPteacherswouldraisetherigorofcurriculumforallstudents Studentsmightspendlesstimeontheschoolbus Relievesovercrowdingatsomeschools Givesmorestudentsmoreopportunitiestosucceedandgrowacademically Additionofafterschoolenrichmentwillbenefitallstudents MoreparentsmayconsiderenrollingtheirchildreninAAPifcentersarewithintheir pyramid Moreparentengagementwithcloserlocations Reducedtransportationcosts Grandfatheringisgood AAPandhonorswillbeofferedconcurrently Challenges Processismovingtoofast;slowdown FearofovercrowdinginexistingAAPcenterswhennewstudentsaremovedthere
December10,20121

BreakingupofcurrentAAPcenterelementarycohortsoncetheymovetonewmiddle schoolAAPcenter Notenoughcriticalmassatsomeschools Fewerclassesatmoreschoolsmayaffectopportunitiescomparedtolargercenter schools ConcernedthatidentifiedAAPstudentswillbecombinedwithothermiddleorhigh schoolstudentstofillclasses Ethnic,racial,andeconomicdiversitywillsufferinsomeAAPcenters CultureofacademicrigorisdiminishedwhenAAPstudentsaremovedtoanotherschool Longertraveltimetonewcenterthantooldcenter Adequatenumberofcertifiedteachers AttritionofexistingAAPcenterteacherscouldbringdownthequalityofexistingcenters Ensuringqualityofinstructioninnewcentersisequaltoexistingcenters Challengesforfamilieswithstudentsinbothcenterandbaseschool Manyquestionsexistabouthowimplementationwillimpactenrollment,overallcosts, transportationcosts,facilities Morebusestocenterscouldincreasetrafficandsafetyissues Plandoesnttakeintoaccountsplitfeederschools Doingonegradelevelatatimemaybeisolatingforstudentsandteachers Budgetimplicationstoexpandcenterstoallmiddleschools Movingkidsisabandaidsoneedtoworkonfacilitiestobuildcapacityatschools Notenoughcommunityengagement BellscheduledifferenceswillcreateSACCcapacityissuestheyneedtobealignedwith thebaseschool Inconvenientlocationsformanyparentsmayimpacttheirinvolvementwithschool Nomatterwhathappenscountywide,severeovercrowdingatHaycock,LouiseArcher, andHuntersWoodsmustbeaddressed

Otherideas/options AllowstudentstoattendtheclosestmiddleschoolAAPcenter,nottheoneincluster Considerbellscheduleswithrealignmenttoreducefamilyhardshipswithsiblingsin multiplepyramidschools RecommendstartingtheAAPexpansionwithathirdgradecohortandfollowingthat classtoeighthgradewithfullcompletionofexpansionin2017 Buildupexistingnoncenter/locallevelIVprogramstomakethemequalinexpectations andresults NeedatooltomeasurelevelIVprogramstocomparetheirsuccess Considerviewpointofnewsuperintendentbeforemakinglongtermdecisions Takealongtermviewofcapacityofthepyramidbeforemakingdecision

December10,20122

Makeitachoiceforcurrentcenterstudentstomovetoanewcenterorstayintheir currentcenter Offerincentivetocurrentcenterteacherstomovetoanewcentertohelpestablishit Addressovercrowdedschoolsfirst,thenexpandschoolbyschool Extraresourcesneededforteachers,studentandfamiliestosupporttransition Lookatdatatoseeifthesechangeswillincreaseenrollmentofsubgroups Startthechangeinareasthataremoreinneedratherthanallatonce;perhapsafive yearphasein Dontallowgrandfatheringasitwillallowovercrowdingandtransportationissuesto continuefor2to3years CreatelocallevelIVservicesatschoolsthataresendingthemoststudentstoexisting centers Useareadinesschecklistandqualitycriteriatoensurequalityofnewcenters BringingIBprogramtomiddleschoolswilladdressmanyconcernsofAAPparents Includeteachersintheprocess/discussion BifurcatetheovercrowdingissuewiththeAAPexpansion BuildmoreschoolsandrecapturebuildingslikeDunnLoring,PimmitHills CreateAAPonlyschools ConsidercreatingAAPcentersbygeography,notbypyramid ExpansionofAAPshouldbedonethroughlocallevelIVprograms;centersshould providetrulyspecialeducation Dontrealignmiddleschoolsuntilelementaryschoolsarecorrectlyaligned Decisionsneedtobemadebasedonwhatisgoodforallstudents,notjustAAPstudents BetterintegrationofAAPstudentsandgeneraleducationstudentsinbothcentersand schoolbasedlevelIVservices PayattentiontoimpactofAAPprogramonneighborhoodschools

December10,20123