Transcript Elementary Capacity Study Team Report June 16, 2009 Current Process Direct the Superintendent to assign a staff Study Team to: • prepare a report.

Elementary Capacity Study Team
Report
June 16, 2009
Current Process
Direct the Superintendent to assign a staff Study Team to:
• prepare a report addressing the current and projected crowding
in Arlington elementary schools and
• discuss issues and approaches to maximize the use of existing
elementary school capacity
In July 2009, the School Board will hold a work session to
• discuss the report and
• to provide guidance to the Superintendent about preferred
approaches to maximize current elementary capacity
Staff will initiate a community engagement process in the
summer of 2009. In November 2009, the Superintendent will
present to the School Board recommendations to maximize the
use of existing school capacity.
Background on Elementary
Capacity Processes
• Boundary Development and Program Planning 2003
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Moved ten planning units
Moved Claremont to Campbell site
Opened Campbell as a choice option to all schools south of Route 50
Opened Claremont as an Immersion school with attendance area (western half of
county)
• Boundary and Enrollment Adjustment Process 2005
• Moved four planning units
• Moved one preK Montessori class
• Made Barrett a cluster school for non-team schools north of Route 50
• Elementary Crowding and Capacity Committee 2008
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Moved two planning units
Moved three programs
Changed Barcroft transfer option from Barrett to Randolph
Requested staff report on all elementary options
• Crowding Project Team 2009
• Reported on multiple options to School Board
• School Board developed current process (next slide)
Capacity Utilization Tables
May 11 Community Meeting
1. A staff presentation was simulcast in all the group meeting rooms
outlining the issues around elementary crowding and maximizing the
use of elementary school capacity. Supporting documents were
distributed to attendees as a referent.
2. Facilitated, small-group, sessions of 8-12 participants in which each
participant had the opportunity to:
• Respond with one comment – a pro, a con, or a pass – to each of
6 approaches to addressing crowding
• Suggest other approaches
• Complete a Community Meeting Response Form with additional
comments and ranking and/or
• Offer other approaches for APS to consider to maximize existing
capacity at our elementary schools
Meeting was organized and facilitated in collaboration with the
Projections/Capacity Sub-committee (P/CS) of the Facilities Advisory
Council.
Summary of Results
May 11 Community Meeting
While there appears to be no clear approach and/or solution accepted by
all, there are several which appear to have a greater degree of support,
including:
• Use of relocatables as a short-term, and in some instances, long-term
solution
• Use of Wilson site, though considerable additional information and
education needed, to provide additional capacity
• Disinterest in massive boundary moves, though awareness that if a
program were to be moved to Wilson, boundary moves would be
necessary to create a new elementary school
Summary of Results
Online Survey
As of June 11, 2009, 334 surveys have been completed online.
The two approaches with both the most responses and the highest
rankings are Adding Relocatables (289/334 responses; 134 responses
ranked either 1 or 2) and Build New Elementary at Wilson Site (209/334
responses; 90 responses ranked either 1 or 2).
The 157 responses to the Convert the Use of Existing Spaces are divided
approximately into thirds:
• one-third supporting transitioning computer labs to mobile labs and
using the labs as classrooms
• one-third opposed to transitioning
• one-third either pro or con on converting other spaces
Next Steps
1. School Board Work Session (July)
The School Board will hold a work session in July 2009 to
discuss this report as well as any additional information
requested and to provide guidance to the Superintendent
about preferred approaches to maximize current elementary
capacity.
Next Steps
2. Contract with an outside consultant to review current methods
and estimates of capacities, projected enrollments, and school
space at our elementary and secondary schools (August –
November)
Note: This was approved on May 26, 2009 by the School
Board as part of the Secondary School Capacity Process.
APS will develop an RFP for the consultant which will be
reviewed by the P/CS. APS will retain an outside consultant to
review current methods and estimates of capacities, projected
enrollments, and school space at our elementary and secondary
schools and to make short-term and long-term recommendations
for better using space within or among our buildings. The
consultant would also be asked to provide recommendations for
increasing permanent capacity at the schools for consideration in
the upcoming CIP planning process.
Next Steps
3. Staff and P/CS collaboration to address crowding
(September – December)
Staff is enthusiastic about continuing the successful
collaboration with the P/CS and the FAC as a whole.
Following the work session and pursuant to the direction
provided by the School Board, staff will initiate a
community engagement process this summer and will
continue to work with the P/CS. In November, the
Superintendent will present to the School Board
recommendations to maximize the use of existing school
capacity.
Next Steps
4. Proposed Community Engagement Process
Staff will begin the community engagement process this
summer, following the School Board work session, with
open sessions with interested stakeholders to discuss the
results of School Board work session and the May 11
community meeting. This effort will be followed in the fall
with community forums conducted by staff in collaboration
with the P/CS on the results of the consultant’s work.
Finally, School Board deliberations in December and
January will include public hearings on the proposed
recommendations.
Timeline
June 2009
Superintendent presents elementary crowding report to School Board
July 2009
School Board holds work session
July – August
2009
Staff and PC/S develop community engagement process
Staff and P/CS discuss School Board work session and community
meeting results with interested stakeholders
Staff and P/CS continue to solicit community input
August –
November 2009
Consultant conducts review
Staff, consultant, and P/CS analyzes data
Staff and PC/S conduct community engagement process with
community forums on results of consultant’s work
Staff reviews options with P/CS and develops report to
Superintendent
November 2009
Superintendent presents recommendations to School Board
November –
December 2009
School Board holds public hearings on Superintendent’s
recommendations
December 2009
– January 2010
School Board reviews and acts on Superintendent’s
recommendations
Web Page
Information and materials related to process (including
all responses, comments, and suggestions from the
May 11 Community Meeting):
http://www.apsva.us/elemcapacity
In addition, the Web page has an online survey for
those who were unable to attend the community
meeting.
Elementary Capacity Study Team
Report
June 16, 2009