North Side Initiative School Year 2007-2008

Timeline Strategy
March 2007 Designate a project manager for the North Side Initiative

March 2007 Develop a North Side advisory board that is representative of internal and external stakeholders (educational advisors,
Meet Quarterly union leadership, community advocates, faith-based organizations) to establish communication lines and evaluate the
effectiveness of the Initiative

Develop a Cross Functional Team representative of various academic and operations departments (Communications,
March 2007 Curriculum and Instruction, English Language Learners, Family & Community Engagement, Human Resources, Special
Meet Bi-weekly Education, Student Support, Transportation)

Develop a marketing and communications plan that includes the following:

March 2007 ƒ Marketing plan for each school
On-going ƒ Working with print and broadcast media outlets to “showcase” schools and programs (following a school throughout
the implementation phase)
ƒ Highlighting community and business partnerships that support schools

Fall 2007 Comprehensive Academic Program (PreK-12) for all students

ƒ Content Core (Math, Reading/Writing, Science, Social Studies)
ƒ Essentials (Arts/Fine Arts/Performing Arts and Music, Media/Technology, Physical Education/Health, Gifted
Talented/Advanced Placement, World Languages, and Magnet Programs)
ƒ Learning Supports (Attendance, Behavior, Counselor/Social Worker, ELL, Health, Special Education)
o Lower Class Size, PreK-3
o Early Childhood/High Five in all buildings
o All Day Kindergarten for all students
Student Engagement and Leadership
Fall 2007 ƒ Extended learning opportunities
ƒ Summer camps (world languages, math, music, and technology)
Fall 2007 Parent Engagement Plan that includes a parent and school compact
March 2007 Develop a community compact that identifies needs, clarifies roles, and provides clear expectations and an evaluation tool
for schools and partners
Fall 2007 Positive Behavior Intervention Plan – Implement a behavioral support program that has a continuum of services from in-
class prevention support through out-of-school suspension
Fall 2007 Establish an evaluation tool for the North Side Initiative to monitor progress toward established outcomes for achievement,
On-going behavior, and engagement

UPDATE – February 28, 2007

North Side Initiative School Year 2007-2008 — Scenarios
North Side
Scenario A
Initiative
School • 1 PreK-5 schools (size 600)
Configuration • 3 PreK-8 schools (Avg. size 920)
• 1 dual campus (size 950)
• 2 9-12 schools (Avg. size 950)
• Close 7-8 school buildings (1800
students reassigned)
Opportunities • This plan concentrates academic
resources in fewer schools
• There are greater facility cost
savings
• Allows for more efficient
transportation with fewer schools.
• If enrollment continues to decline,
this allows full plan now with fewer
closings in the future
Consequences • Break up or dilute successful
staff/programs that exist
• Charter schools have successfully
promoted small class-size schools
• It is difficult to recommend a K-8
with 900 students
• Most parents in closed schools may
not have enough time to be engaged
and make an informed choice
UPDATE – February 28, 2007
Scenario B
• 3 PreK-5 schools (Avg. size 360)
• 3 PreK-8 schools (Avg. size 620)
• 1 dual campus (size 880)
• 1 6-12 school (size 950)
• 1 9-12 schools (size 1200)
• Close 4-5 school buildings (1100
students reassigned)
• Schools are large enough to generate
needed resources to implement the
academic plan
• Provides immediate attention to
challenges we know exist on the north
side
• Schools are small enough to foster
parental involvement in school and
teacher engagement with parents
• Closings are moderate and could occur
in a truncated process
• This configuration will allow for
relatively efficient transportation
• This will allow us to maintain staff and
programs that are working well now
• If enrollment fallout continues, we
may have trouble funding some
buildings to meet academic plan in 2-3
years
• Some parents in closed schools may
not have enough time to be engaged
and make an informed choice
Scenario C
• 3 PreK-5 schools (Avg. size 250)
• 6 PreK-8 schools (Avg. size 450)
• 1 dual campus (size 850)
• 1 6-8 school (size 96)
• 2 9-12 schools (size 950)
• Close 2 school buildings (200 students
reassigned)
• Longer process will allow community
input and provide parents the
opportunity to choose a school for
Fall 2008
• Proactive planning opportunities will
be possible with the longer timeframe
• We cannot fully implement academic
plan with resources spread across a
number of buildings
• This model allows no budget
efficiencies
• Delaying the inevitable has a negative
impact on school morale, student
achievement and enrollment