ADDRESSING, BEYOND CURRENT ACTIONS, NORTH CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS OVERCROWDING

DELIVERY MODEL: The recommendation for this scenario is:

• Move 6th grade students at Barrington, Brown and Walnut Creek elementary schools to their respective middle schools. Sixth grade students from Barrington and Brown elementary schools will attend Webb MS. Sixth grade students at Walnut Creek ES will attend Dobie MS.

• Create a Pre-K center at Dobie MS. Pre-K students from Graham ES and Hart ES will be assigned to Dobie MS.

• Create a Pre-K-8 model at Webb MS and reassign a portion of Barrington ES attendance zone to Webb MS, retaining the same boundaries for the existing middle school students and growing the model with specific grade levels at a time as appropriate.

• Reassign remaining Barrington Pre-K to Reilly ES.

STRATEGIC PLAN & BOARD PRIORITY INITIATIVE ALIGNMENT:

Goal 3: All students will graduate ready for college, career, and life in a globally competitive economy.

Strategy 1: Provide a high-quality, well-rounded educational experience to all students that is rigorous, culturally relevant, healthful, and engaging.

Key Actions: 1.4, 1.11, 1.19, 1.20, 1.21

Key Actions 4.6 and 4.7

Key Action 4.6: Consider school consolidations, school repurposing boundary adjustments and possible school closures to reduce operational costs, meet the need for new or expanded programs, and respond to changes in student enrollment.

Key Action 4.7: Ensure efficiency and efficacy of existing facilities before investing in new facilities.

Board Priorities • New delivery models to provide an enhanced portfolio of academic

options. • Improve overall school district climate for learning. • Develop academic achievement and support strategy for special

populations through accelerated/differentiated instruction.

RATIONALE: Because significant student seat deficiencies exist in North Central elementary schools, the District intends to identify actions to address overcrowding by making better use of existing AISD facility capacity.

All North Central elementary schools currently exceed their permanent capacity.

ATTACHMENT "4"

School

2011-12 Permanent Capacity

2011-12 Enrollment

Student Seat Deficiency

Barrington 556 1,104 (548) Brown 468 494 (26) Cook 561 955 (394) Graham 598 818 (220) Hart 711 961 (250) McBee 580 760 (180) Walnut Creek 655 930 (275) Wooldridge 524 909 (385) Wooten 468 674 (206) Read PK 393 471 (78)

To accommodate the current enrollment, student seats have been added through the use of portable buildings. However, common areas such as cafeterias, libraries and gyms, continue to be overburdened. For example, at some schools, 3 hours of the school day are dedicated to serving lunch, with lunch starting as early as 10:00 AM and ending as late as 1:30 PM

Conversely, North Central middle schools currently have excess permanent and functional capacity (i.e., their permanent capacity plus portable buildings):

• In 2006-07, Read was repurposed as a Pre-K center to help alleviate overcrowding. Currently, Read Pre-K serves the Cook, McBee and Wooldridge attendance areas.

Recent Strategies to Alleviate Overcrowding:

• In the 2004 Bond program, an eight-classroom addition was constructed at Graham Elementary School.

• In the 2008 Bond Program, an eight-classroom addition was constructed at both Barrington and Hart elementary schools.

• Portables have been added to campus sites to help alleviate overcrowding by providing additional student seats, however, common areas such as cafeterias, libraries and gyms continue to be overburdened.

• Expanding short-term solutions - Draft preliminary scenarios that utilizes current space and available solutions

Planning to Address Overcrowding:

• Mid-term solutions – Construction of the 2004 Bond Program elementary school o Land has been purchased; design is underway, and construction

is to be completed by 2013

SchoolFunctional Capacity Enrollment

Student Seat Excess

Burnet MS 1,372 1,030 342Dobie MS 862 666 196Webb MS 902 662 240

ATTACHMENT "4"

• Long-term solutions o Possible designation of another elementary school from the 2008

Bond Program for the north central area (requires Board action) o Future bonds would need to be passed for additions, land

purchases and new construction.

• Consider scenarios through facilities master plan process to make more efficient use of excess seats at area middle schools by considering the possibility of: o Moving 6th grade students, currently enrolled at elementary

campuses, to their respective middle schools; and o Establishing PK Centers and PK-8 school models at middle schools.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

Move 6th grade students from Walnut Creek ES to Dobie MS and 6th grade students from Barrington ES and Brown ES to Webb MS. The District estimates that overcrowding at Walnut Creek ES would be reduced by 19 students, that overcrowding at Barrington ES would be reduced by 55 students, and that overcrowding at Brown ES would be reduced by 17 students.

Create a Pre-K Center Dobie MS. Pre-K students from Graham ES and Hart ES would be assigned to Dobie MS. A separate cafeteria and gym would be provided at the Pre-K centers. The District estimates that overcrowding at Graham ES would be reduced by approximately 130 students, and that overcrowding at Hart ES would be reduced by approximately 140 students.

Create a PK-8 model at Webb MS and reassign a portion of Barrington ES attendance zone to Webb MS, retaining the same boundaries for the existing middle school students. It is projected that approximately 460 Pre-K-5 students would be enrolled at Webb. Pre-K-5 school would use TEKS based District curriculum, elementary school level pedagogy as well as state/district assessments.

The District will continue to support the community-based model that has been established at Webb MS. Moreover, Webb MS will continue to serve students in grades 6-8 who live in the current attendance zone.

Remaining Barrington Pre-K would be reassigned to Reilly ES.

Barrington Elementary School students residing in the southeast portion of the current attendance zone, roughly bounded by E. Walnut Drive on the north, IH 35 on the east, E. Anderson Lane on the south and Georgian Drive on the west will be reassigned to the proposed Webb Pre-K-8 School.

Pre-K -8 program at Webb Middle School will be phased in over a period of five years, beginning with pre-k, kindergarten and first grade in 2012-13, growing yearly by grade level to pre-K-8 by 2016-17 only if the school as capacity to grow the new design. This phased approach would allow for a more measured implementation to lessen the impact on the existing Webb Middle School model.

The Pre-K villages at both Webb and Dobie have a similar design to the portables at the Lucy Read PreK Center. (See Attachment 4).

The relationship between short- and long-term solutions to support north central elementary school 2,562 permanent seat deficiency.

ATTACHMENT "4"

Phase I - 2012-13 Implementation (659 deficit reduction, remaining deficit 1,903)

Pre-K Village (Dobie);

Pre-K, K, 1 (Webb);

Pre-K (Reilly);

6th Grade to designated middle school (Dobie and Webb);

Establish an attendance zone for the 2004 Bond Program school by adjusting boundaries to support and provide relief for McBee, Walnut Creek and Wooldridge elementary schools; Identify and purchase site or building for 2008 Undesignated Elementary School.

Pre-K Village (Dobie);

Phase II - 2013-14 Implementation (865 additional deficit reduction, remaining deficit 1,038)

Pre-K, K, 1, 2 (Webb);

Pre-K (Reilly);

6th Grade to designated middle school (Dobie and Webb);

2004 Bond School opens;

Establish an attendance zone for the 2008 Bond Program school by adjusting boundaries to support and provide relief for Cook and Wooldridge elementary schools.

Pre-K Village (Dobie);

Phase III - 2014-15 Implementation (additional 856 deficit reduction, remaining deficit 313)

Pre-K, K, 1, 2, 3 (Webb);

Pre-K (Reilly);

6th Grade to designated middle school (Dobie and Webb);

2004 Bond Program elementary school;

2008 Bond School opens.

With a remaining deficit of 313 seats, which does not include a projected 8% growth for this area, it would be premature to phase out any of the interim relief efforts, because that would result in an increased seat deficit equivalent to the enrollment for an elementary school (capital cost avoidance). Long-term additional relief is dependent upon new capital bond program approval, which would allow for the addition of more capacity.

Because of the severity of the overcrowding in north central elementary schools, it is necessary to have both interim and long-term relief strategies. There is a direct relationship between these two strategies. The interim strategy provides relief more quickly and allows for the 2004 Bond Program elementary school to provide relief to schools (McBee, Walnut Creek and possibly Wooldridge elementary schools) other than Barrington Elementary School. This plan also allows flexibility for the 2008 Bond Program

ATTACHMENT "4"

elementary school in providing relief to additional overcrowded elementary schools (Cook and Wooldridge elementary schools) in the area.

DISTRICT NEEDS: AISD is interested in exploring/establishing new delivery models to provide an enhanced portfolio of academic options. The Pre-K-8 model will help some students perform better in school with a reduction in the number of transitions from typical school designs, such as from 5th grade to 6th grade and from 8th grade to 9th grade.

By addressing overcrowding issues, the District aims to improve the learning environment for students and the working environment for teachers and staff. The District is better able to support current and future students when school facilities are not overburdened.

While the District is planning for long-term facilities needs, it must also consider options that better utilize existing capacity and address the critical needs of over-capacity schools.

SUPPORTING RESEARCH:

Some urban school districts have reconfigured existing elementary and middle schools to serve grades K – 8 in their place as a way to achieve better educational outcomes. Some of the benefits of the K-8 model include:

• K-8 schools can give students greater opportunities for success by building relationships with staff over a course of nine years.

• Parent involvement can improve because parents are usually more active at the elementary school level, and therefore are more likely to stay involved in the children's school for a longer period.

• Middle grades students in a K-8 school tend to behave differently than in a middle school because they are the older students at the school and not struggling to find an identity in a school with a different set of students.

• Better alignment of academic programs occurs since you are working with one school and faculty.

• The transition to a K-8 model can enhance teacher collaboration and articulation within and across grades.

• Internal accountability can increase in schools making the transition to K-8 because now teachers know to what classrooms students are going and from what classrooms they are coming.

George, P.S. (2005). K-8 or Not? Reconfiguring the Middle Grades. Middle School Journal, 37(1), 6-8.

Offenberg, R. (2001). The Efficacy of Philadelphia’s K-to8 Schools Compared to Middle Schools. Middle School Journal, 32(4), 23-29.

Alspaugh, J.W. (1998). Achievement Loss Associated with the Transition to Middle School and High School. Journal of Educational Research, 92(1), 20-25.

EXAMPLE IMPLEMENTATIONS:

Uncommon Schools

Lucy Read Pre-Kindergarten Demonstration School

ATTACHMENT "4"

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

FACIL ITY IMPLICATIONS Currently at Dobie MS serves a population of sixth, seventh and eighth

grade students. In an effort to provide some relief from overcrowding at Hart ES and Graham ES, a pre-kindergarten center, to serve approximately

Pre-K Center at Dobie Middle School

Annual Operating Costs Amount

6th Grade to Dobie & Webb:

Staffing Increase Dobie & Webb 220,548Projected Staffing Savings: 6th grade from Walnut Creek, Barrington and Brown (275,685)Transportation Cost Neutral

Subtotal 6th Grade to Dobie & Webb (55,137)

Dobie Pre-K Center:Staffing Increase Dobie 952,189Projected Staffing Savings: Reallocated teachers (827,055)Transportation 303,854Bus Monitors (8) 191,392

Subtotal Pre-K Center 620,380Pre-K thru 8 at Webb:Staffing Increase Webb 1,869,818Projected Staffing Savings: Reallocated teachers (1,285,538)Transportation 160,000

Subtotal Pre-thru 8 at Webb 744,280

Barrington Pre-K to Reilly:Staffing Cost NeutralTransportation 40,000Bus Monitors (2) 47,848

Subtotal Barrington Pre-K to Reilly 87,848

Net Total Annual Operating Cost to District 1,397,371One-Time Costs

Start-up/Facilities-6th Grade to Dobie & Webb 0Subtotal One-Time 6th Grade to Dobie & Webb 0

Start-Up Dobie Pre-K Center (libraries, technology, furniture) 83,000

Facilities Redesign Dobie Pre-K Center 1,762,040Subtotal One-Time Dobie Pre-k Ctr. 1,845,040

Start-Up Pre-K -8 at Webb (libraries, technology, furniture) 174,000Facilities Redesign Pre-K -8 at Webb 1,874,188

Subtotal One-Time Pre-k thru 8 Webb 2,048,188

Start-Up Pre-K to Reilly 0Facilities Improvement Pre-K to Reilly 238,000

Subtotal One-Time Pre-K to Reilly 238,000Total One-Time Costs 4,131,228

Grand Total Yr 1 5,528,599

Projected Costs for North Central Overcrowding

ATTACHMENT "4"

270 students, will be established at Dobie MS.

Eight portable classroom buildings (16 classrooms) will be clustered at the campus, connected by common porches and ramps. The pre-K center will also include a portable building for use as a cafeteria and an indoor recreational area. A covered walkway will connect the pre-K center to the main building. Other additional features include the construction and fencing of a pre-K playscape, and the construction of a new playslab with a shade cover.

As a middle school, this facility was designed with group toilet rooms serving the classrooms in the various classroom wings. Current AISD Elementary Education Specifications include toilet rooms to be located within individual classrooms. However, in many existing elementary schools, classroom wings are served by group toilet rooms, and for this study it is assumed that this model is acceptable. Modifications to these toilet rooms will be necessary, mainly lowering fixture heights, in order to comply with TDLR/ADA requirements.

Pre-K -8 at Webb Middle School

Other changes necessary for age-specific conversion include new furniture, fixtures and equipment in classrooms and some new library furniture, the addition of elementary classroom casework in 16 classrooms, a new playslab and shade cover, and the installation of two playscapes.

Additional faculty parking may also be constructed along the existing bus drop-off lane on the northeast side of the property and along the fire lane south of the existing fine arts building.

The remaining approximate 107 Pre-K students, not assigned to Webb PK-8, will be assigned to attend Reilly Elementary School. Reilly presently has a functional capacity that can accommodate approximately half of the incoming Pre-K students from Barrington, but two additional portable classroom buildings (4 classrooms) will be needed to fully accommodate the current Reilly student population, plus incoming Pre-K students from Barrington.

Barrington Pre-K to Reilly ES

ATTACHMENT "4"

ATTACHMENT "4"

ATTACHMENT "4"

ATTACHMENT "4"Example: Lucy Read Pre-Kindergarten Demonstration School

Covered Walkways at Lucy Read PK Demonstration Center

ATTACHMENT "4"

Covered Walkways at Lucy Read PK Demonstration Center

ATTACHMENT "4"

North Central Elementary & Middle Schools Community MeetingAISD Facility Master Plan FrameworkNovember 8, 2011www.austinisd.org/fmp

Meeting Objectives

� Review the Facility Master Plan Framework� Review the possible options for addressing

overcrowding in North Central Elementary� Breakout sessions: ask questions, share your

thoughts about the revised options, rate the options and offer new options

1

ATTACHMENT "4"

North Central Austin Elementary Schools

- Barrington, - Brown, - Cook, - Graham, - Hart, - McBee, - Walnut Creek, - Wooldridge, and - Wooten, plus - Read PK Center

2

Background

� 24 month process to outline a Facility Master Plan Framework

� Academic guidance from the Board-approved Strategic Plan and Board-identified priorities

� On September 12, the Board of Trustees was presented the draft Facility Master Plan

� On October 24, the Administration presented preliminary scenarios to the Board

� On November 7, the administration continued the discussion of preliminary scenarios with the Board.

3

ATTACHMENT "4"

Facility Master Plan Framework

The FMP is a framework with the following three process components:

1. A comprehensive, long-term FMP;

2. Annual updated information; and

3. Annual Academic and Facilities Recommendations (AAFRs)

• AAFRs are driven by academics and balanced by operational needs.

4

Development of Annual Academic and Facilities Recommendations

Driven by Academics; Balanced by Operationsy y p

The overlap of Academics and Operations determines the AAFRs. This overlap can be larger or smaller, depending on the impact of board priorities, emergency needs (i.e. natural disasters), available resources, unexpected population shifts, and urgent facilities conditions in any given year.

AAFRs

ACADEMICS

• AISD Strategic Plan

• Annual Board Priorities

OPERATIONS

• Facility Assessment Results

• FinancialImplications

5

ATTACHMENT "4"

AISD Strategic Plan Goals

1. All students will perform at or above grade level.2. Achievement gaps among all student groups will

be eliminated.3. All students will graduate ready for college, career

and life in a globally competitive economy.4. All schools will meet or exceed state accountability

standards, and the district will meet federal standards and exceed state standards.

6

Board Priorities SY 2011-2012

New Delivery ModelsExplore/establish new delivery models to provide an enhanced portfolio of academic options with supporting facilities plans and budget scenarios.

Human CapitalRefine human capital strategies to support and improve the new performance management model.

School & District Climate Improve overall school and district climate for learning.• Whole Child/Every Child• Health & Wellness• Safety• Multicultural Outreach/

Engagement• Cultural Proficiency &

Inclusiveness

Special PopulationsDevelop academic achievement and support strategies for special populations through accelerated and differentiated instruction.• Special Education• ELL and Secondary ESL Services• African American Student

Support• Advanced Academics

7

ATTACHMENT "4"

Board Priority: Improve the School & District Climate for Learning

� Beyond current actions, address north central elementary school overcrowding with better use of existing AISD facility capacity;

� Designate the 2008 Bond Program elementary school to provide relief for overcrowding in north central Austin;

� Evaluate transfer policy and practice at over-enrolled schools; and

� Approve any boundary changes that are necessitated by AAFRs.

8

North Central Area Elementary School 2011-12 Permanent Capacity and Enrollment

School Capacity Enrollment DifferenceBarrington 556 student seats 1,104 students (548)Brown 468 student seats 494 students (26)Cook 561 student seats 955 students (394)Graham 598 student seats 818 students (220)Hart 711 student seats 961 students (250)McBee 580 student seats 760 students (180)Walnut Creek655 student seats 930 students (275)Wooldridge 524 student seats 909 students (385)Wooten 468 student seats 674 students (206)Read PK 393 student seats 471 students (78)Area Total 5,514 student seats 8,076 students (2,562)

2,562 student seat deficiency9

ATTACHMENT "4"

North Central Area Elementary School 2011-12 Functional Capacity

(Permanent + Portables)School Capacity Enrollment DifferenceBarrington 890 student seats 1,104 students (214) Brown 598 student seats 494 students 104Cook 763 student seats 955 students (192)Graham 767 student seats 818 students (51)Hart 811 student seats 961 students (150)McBee 767 student seats 760 students 7Walnut Creek954 student seats 930 students 24Wooldridge 935 student seats 909 students 26Wooten 860 student seats 674 students 186Read PK 505 student seats 471 students 34Area Total 7,850 student seats 8,076 students (226)

226 student seat deficiency10

North Central Area Middle School 2011-12 Permanent Capacity and Enrollment

School Capacity Enrollment DifferenceBurnet 1,039 student seats 1,030 students 9Dobie 902 student seats 666 students 236Webb 804 student seats 662 students 142Area Total 2,745 student seats 2,358 students 387

387 student seat excess

11

ATTACHMENT "4"

North Central Area Middle School 2011-12 Functional Capacity

(Permanent + Portables)

School Capacity Enrollment DifferenceBurnet 1,372 student seats 1,030 students 342Dobie 862 student seats 666 students 196Webb 902 student seats 662 students 240Area Total 3,136 student seats 2,358 students 778

778 student seat excess

12

Planning to Address North Central Overcrowding

� Expanding short-term solutions- Draft preliminary scenarios that use current space and

available solutions� Mid-term solutions

- 2004 Bond Program elementary school• Land purchased on November 7th• Construction for the school building is funded

� Long-term solutions- Possible designation of another elementary school from the

2008 Bond Program for the north central area (requires Board action)

- Future bonds would need to be passed for additions, land purchases and new construction.

13

ATTACHMENT "4"

Revised Scenario for November 8, 2011

� The following revised scenario is based on feedback received and considers survey results, and is presented for additional consideration

14

Revised Scenario (November 8, 2011)

� Sixth grade students at Barrington, and Brown (Webb MS) and Walnut Creek (Dobie MS) go to feeder middle schools,

� A portion of Barrington to Webb as a PK – 8 school, and� Graham and Hart PK students to PK Center at Dobie, � Remaining Barrington PK students to Reilly ES

92 students (6th Grade)366 students (Webb PK – 8)270 students (Dobie PK Center)84 students (Barrington PK)

Overcrowding relief 812 students Total students affected 812 students

15

ATTACHMENT "4"

Barrington Relief

� A portion of Barrington ES to be reassigned to Webb as a PK – 8model, and

� The remaining PK students in the Barrington attendance zone would be assigned to Reilly ES

16

PK Center at Dobie

17

ATTACHMENT "4"

2011 Community Engagement September – December

www.austinisd.org/fmp� September 26

- Update AISD website - Community can submit comments

� September-October- Outreach and discussions with principals, staff, families, and

community stakeholders� October-November

- Hold two public input sessions which will be accessible via website and Channel 22

• Tuesday, October 25 at 6:00pm in CAC Board Auditorium • Monday, November 28 at 6:00pm (location TBD)

� December- Gather and submit community input to Board

18

Breakout Sessions by School

� Discuss the revised draft preliminary scenario with your principal and how they may affect your school- Ask questions and share your thoughts about the

scenario- Rate the scenario components and provide comments

19

ATTACHMENT "4"