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 4^th 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 5^th 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 ½ day staff development and collaboration
• Neighborhood schools provide a nurturing environment for 4^th and 5^th 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?