Housing Recommendations: Initial Proposal for Reorganization of CUSD Schools

1. Housing Recommendations: Initial Proposal for Reorganization of CUSD Schools December 17, 2008

2. Initial Proposal – December 17, 2008 Staff and parent input and informational meetings: January 6, 2009 – Parkview School 6 p.m. January 8, 2009 – Rosedale School 6 p.m. January 13, 2009 – GATE 6 p.m. District Office Large Conference Room January 14, 2009 – Board Workshop 6 p.m. @ Parkview School January 28, 2009 – Board Action

3. I am before you this evening to share with you the district elementary housing committee’s initial proposal for the reorganization of CUSD’s schools. The focus of the committee’s task was to take a look at the entire district and to craft a housing recommendation that would support the improved health of our organization and provide the best educational opportunities for ALL of our students. My presentation tonight will include the reasons for the reorganization of our schools, the process that was used, the factors considered by the committee, the actual housing recommendations for each school site, the anticipated results of the reorganization plan and the next steps in this process. I would like to reiterate that this is an INITIAL PROPOSAL and gives us a starting point from which to work.

4. Reasons for reorganization of CUSD schools: Just as staff has previously discussed with you the changing face of education and the shift in demographics at the high school level, tonight’s proposal is intended to begin the conversation regarding elementary education. There are many issues that were catalysts for the elementary housing committee’s review of our existing educational programs and facilities and the reorganization proposal that is being presented this evening:

5. Chico’s Changing demographics Chico’s changing demographics underscore the urgency for CUSD to employ new organizational approaches and to retool our academic programs in order to address declining enrollment in some of our elementary schools, improve the academic achievement for EVERY student and to attractand maintain student enrollment in all of our schools. To reiterate what you have heard in previous presentations from Mike Weissenborn, Mary Leary and Sara Simmons, schools located in the north and east sections of town are experiencing increased enrollment due to housing growth while schools located in the south section of town are experiencing decreased enrollment. In spite of the current economic conditions, the population growth has continued to flow into the northern and eastern ends of our town, impacting elementary school enrollment in those areas. We anticipate that this growth trend will continue given the specifics of the General Plan of the City of Chico and Butte County.

6. No Child Left Behind & Parent Choice legislation No Child Left Behind and Parent Choice legislation allows parents of students at our lower-performing schools the option of transferring their child to a different school. This has had the effect of reducing the enrollment in some of our elementary schools. Most of our Program Improvement schools are located in the south section of town.

7. Increase in Special Education students The number of students enrolled in special education is increasing. We have an obligation to provide classrooms for these students.

8. Enhancement of the Two-Way Immersion program Enhancement of the Two-Way Immersion Program is a major goal of this reorganization plan. We have had conversations over the years with TWI parents, teachers and administrators regarding the consolidation of the two programs. The need to consolidate the two site programs onto one campus and bring additional instructional consistency to the program, provide greater choice of instruction at each grade level and increased student achievement in both our native Spanish speakers and our native English speakers has been a focus of these discussions.

9. Charter Schools Over the past years, Charter Schools have gleaned students from our schools which has directly impacted the enrollment of some of our elementary schools. In selecting charter schools and our own CUSD alternative programs such as Academics Plus, TWI and Open Structure, parents and students are demonstrating their interest in theme or focus school programs. The need for CUSD to address parent and student interest in theme schools in our reorganization proposal was evident to the elementary housing committee and was one of the recommendations of the district’s 2003 Strategic Plan.

10. Process Used • Board of Education, 12/5/07, directed staff to develop a housing master plan. • Spring 2008 – discussion with Education Services staff began. • Elementary Housing Sub-Committee recommendations refined through fall of 2008. • Maintenance & Operations administrators consulted throughout process. • Rosedale and Parkview TWI and neighborhood program teachers met to discuss pros & cons.

11. Factors Considered • Changing demographics Growth increase in north & east Chico South Chico growth stalled • Expanding our district’s program of school choice • Special Education program growth • Reorganization of low-performing schools • Incubating innovative education practices (STEM)

12. Factors Considered (cont.) • Impact on families • Impact on CUSD optional programs (TWI, Academics Plus, GATE & Open Structure) • Impact on budget • Maximizing use of facilities • Boundary changes

13. Housing Recommendations: Initial Proposal • Marigold – neighborhood school & day treatment program • Loma Vista – Special Education • Chapman – neighborhood school with a focus program • Parkview – neighborhood school, GATE program, STEM program and elementary opportunity program

14. Housing Recommendations: Initial Proposal (cont.) • Rosedale – Two-Way Immersion program • Fairview – Alternative Ed high school • Citrus – neighborhood school with a focus program • Bidwell – one 6th grade class • Henshaw/Guynn – begin planning for 2013-14 opening (depending upon growth)

15. Details of each Recommendation • Bidwell • 2009-10 • Exploring implementation of STEM program • Continue to house one 6th grade class • 2010-11 • Consider adding one additional 6th grade class • 2011-12 • Consider adding one more additional 6th grade class

16. Chapman • 2008-09 • January – June 2009 – plan for focus program • 2009-10 • Implementation of school-wide focus program • July – move pull-out GATE class to Parkview • Boundary changed to include Rosedale south

17. Citrus • 2008-09 • January – June 2009 – plan for focus program • 2009-10 • Implementation of school-wide focus program • Boundary changed to include Rosedale west

18. McManus • 2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12 • Continue to give McManus 6th grade students priority entrance into BJHS 6th grade class • Reduced number of 6th grade classes at McManus • No boundary changes

19. Marigold • 2009-10 • July – move 4 self-contained GATE classes to Parkview • July – move Day Treatment program to Marigold • No boundary changes

20. Neal Dow • 2009-10 • Boundary changed – Neal Dow north moved to Parkview • Parkview • 2008-09 • Planning of STEM program • Planning consolidation of TWI program

21. Parkview • 2009-10 • Implementation of STEM program • July – TWI classes move to Rosedale • July – GATE classes and Elementary Opportunity class move to Parkview • School reorganization results in removal of PI status

22. Parkview • Boundary changed to include Neal Dow north & Rosedale east students • Form 10 and 11 applications approved per space available • Bus transportation provided from Parkview to Rosedale for TWI students currently enrolled in TWI

23. Rosedale • 2008-09 • Planning consolidation of TWI program • Planning of a TWI Professional Development School partnership with CSUC • School reorganization results in removal of PI status

24. Rosedale • 2009-10 • Consolidation of TWI program • Implementation of TWI Professional Development School partnership with CSUC • July – Day Treatment program moves to Marigold

25. Rosedale • Boundaries removed: • Rosedale south students attend Chapman • Rosedale east students attend Parkview • Rosedale west students attend Citrus

26. Loma Vista • Continue to house Special Education program • Build DSA pre-approved building for expansion of Special Education program

27. Academy For Change • 2008-09 • Plan for expansion/addition of an elementary program • 2009-10 • Lease expires June 2010 • Implementation of K-6 program

28. Henshaw/Guynn • 2009-10 • Begin planning for construction • Boundaries determined • 2013-14 • Open new site depending upon growth needs • Boundaries activated for August 2013 opening of new site

29. Comparison of present school enrollment, school capacity and projected 2009-10 school enrollment

30. Anticipated Results of the reorganization plan • Expands our district’s program of choice • Restructures 2 low-performing elementary schools • Implements innovative educational programs; STEM and Two-Way Immersion (TWI) • Consolidates TWI sites into one school site • Strengthens existing TWI program • Maximizes use of existing facilities • Alters boundaries – more even distribution of students

31. Next Steps • Initial proposal shared with Board 12/17/08 • Staff & parent input meetings • January 6, 2009 – Parkview School @ 6 p.m. • January 8, 2009 – Rosedale School @ 6 p.m. • January 13, 2009 – GATE parents – District Office large conference room @ 6 p.m. • January 14, 2009 Board workshop 6 p.m. at Parkview School – community input and Board discussion • January 28, 2009 Board action on housing plan recommendations @ 6 p.m.