Grade Configuration Task Force
Comments from Campus
Visits
April 26, 2006 Bluebonnet Elementary
- Would it be practical to make campuses K-2 and 3-5?
- Appreciate knowing that you are looking at a variety of
options, especially the 1- K5 and 2 – pairs.
- Where did the projected numbers come from? (Natural
projection by moving students up into the next grade and 1.5% projection)
- A demographer would be employed to set lines to meet
ethnic balance and number balance once a decision was made
- Would a new campus recapture an existing building?
(Shirley is not a possible recapture. Possible to add to an existing
campus by building more classrooms)
- Life skills concerns about keeping students on a single
campus for 8-10 years. Would all life skills students be on one campus?
(Decisions would be determined with input from program professionals)
- Staff is encouraged to talk with task force members Jana Hedrick, Jill McCall, Sharon Hodges and campus administrators.
May 3, 2006 Tierra Blanca Elementary
- When will a decision be made? (Recommendation to
superintendent July 2006, proposal to board before October 2006)
- Will there be constant change and movement every year? (We
hope to have a plan that will withstand 4-5 years)
- How will staffing decisions be made? (yes – see teacher/staff
preference form http://www.herefordisd.net/Teacher%20Staff%20Preference%20Form.doc)
- Is a bond election reasonable at this time? (The
legislature is making this option very difficult)
- Will there be a plan for moving?
- What about materials that were purchased specifically for
the campus? (Program specialists will be involved in the decisions,
although it is important to remember that materials belong to the district,
not to individual campuses.)
- There will be expenses involved in any change.
- What about other options such as keeping 4th
graders at Tierra Blanca? Does this contribute to the current imbalance?
- Special classes – SpEd and Bilingual will be determined
after lines are drawn to determine need.
May 4, 2006 West Central Elementary
- A Kinder through 5th grade campus would help
with parents transportation and transition
- What is the busing requirement? 2 miles from campus?
Will any of the proposals eliminate shuttle busses in town?
- Vertical alignment will benefit from a K-5 campus
- The music curriculum will need to be distributed evenly
- Will teacher choice be a factor is reconfiguration moves?
(yes – see teacher/staff preference form http://www.herefordisd.net/Teacher%20Staff%20Preference%20Form.doc)
- When will construction begin at West Central? Who will
move first? Will teachers be involved in the discussion and decisions?
(No final decisions have been made. Dr. Steven’s quote, “It really had not occurred to
me to just start adding classrooms without a detailed plan coupled with
input from the instructional staff. As far as I am concerned we are still
in the discussion phase.”)
- The fire inspector needs to be involved in creating new
walls at West Central
- We want a decision…this discussion of grade configuration
has gone on too long
- Are there any changes planned for bilingual education at
upper grades (4-5)?
- Textbooks and library books will need to be considered
early in the process.
May 9, 2006 Stanton School
- We’re surprised that no decision has been made. Why don’t
you just make one?
- Boundary lines cause hard feelings. Is there a way to
make the process better?
- Will the lines be re-drawn? (yes – a demographer will be
hired once the decision is made)
- Academically is there any evidence that one configuration
is better? (The literature is inconclusive regarding this question, there
is evidence that fewer transitions are better for children.)
May 10, 2006 Hereford High School
- We want whatever is best for kids.
- Please consider traffic patterns and the safety of the
children
- What about using Shirley school?
- If new construction occurs, what will happen to the
vacated buildings?
- Has there been consideration to use the administration
building as instructional space?
- The high school is in poor condition and will need work
before the #’s move up to grade 9
- Is there any news on the Ethanol plants and how many
students are associated with them?
- An informal vote of 50 staff yielded (0 – same, 25 K-5
neighborhood schools, 0 – combo, 1 new school)
- Where is the property owned by HISD (NW side of town at
near end of LaPlata street)
May 11, 2006 Hereford Junior High
- Can we start with one K-5 campus as a pilot and ease into
neighborhood schools?
- What is the capacity for HJH and HHS? What will happen
when the large numbers move into secondary?
- Single buses for each elementary and HJH would allow
different start times and allow for campus discretion for ˝ day staff
development and collaboration
- Neighborhood schools provide a nurturing environment for 4th
and 5th grade students
- The concerns about 5 year olds and 12 year olds on the
same campus just mean we need high expectations for behavior and that the
campuses have enforced rules
- Parental involvement will increase with K5 schools
- What is the cost of new building vs. adding on to existing
campuses?
- It seems that K5 schools are a natural transition to even
more growth and building in the future
- What about teachers that want to transfer to elementary
next year? Will they get credit for their years? (yes)
May 15, 2006 Northwest Elem
- It would be good if we planned to have SPH inside the main
building of any chosen campus
- Will Paraprofessionals / aides, librarians and counselors
have the same system for choosing a preference? (There will be a system.)
- When will we be notified of a move or change? (October –
November 2006)
- Primary campuses are better able to serve the needs of
grade 3 students, since this is such a foundational year for testing
- Will this go to a vote in the community? (no –not
necessary, but information is always a good thing)
- These numbers indicate 3-4 classrooms per grade level.
- What about library resources? (There is an indication
that we will increase budget to meet needs)
- Restrooms, cafeteria, desks, etc will all need to be
evaluated for appropriate size.
- There is no way the Speech Pathologists (current staffing)
will be able to cover all campuses.
- When will the lines be drawn? (A demographer will be
hired once a decision has been made. Anyone living on a line will have an
opinion. There has been some discussion about those on the line having a
choice.)
May 16, 2006 Aikman Elem
·
Any opportunity to team vertically will be helpful
·
Will the parents be involved in this decision?