Review the administrative team findings in regard to the recommendation with our two smaller schools...

Lincoln Park - West Wyomissing Building Decision

Wilson School DistrictRedistricting Recommendation

Board & Community Informational Meeting

January 30, 2012

Meeting Purpose

Review the administrative team findings in regard to the recommendation with our two smaller schools at Lincoln Park and West Wyomissing.

Review and explain the recommended redistricting plan.

Announce follow up meetings at each of our elementary schools which will include time for questions and answers.

Areas of Concern

1) The age, condition and equity of facilities at our two small elementary schools.

> Lincoln Park-Built 1948 Renovated 1954-57> West Wyomissing-Built 1936 Renovated 1961

2) Present class size differences throughout the district.

Facility Evaluation Factors• Building Age/Condition• Past History of Capital

Improvement Projects• Building Systems Life Cycle• Current & Future Energy

Use/Cost Analysis• Building Code Analysis• Projected Expenditures

K – 5 OPTIONS

Option 1 – Status Quo

• Maintain Cornwall Terrace, Green Valley, Shiloh Hills, Spring Ridge and Whitfield Elementary Schools with recommended interior alterations.

• Full Renovations for Lincoln Park and West Wyomissing Elementary Schools.

• Total Estimated Project Cost, including roof repairs/replacement and asbestos abatement is $9,852,000.00.

Additions & Alterations

Option 2

• Maintain Cornwall Terrace, Green Valley, Shiloh Hills, Spring Ridge and Whitfield Elementary Schools with recommended interior alterations.

• Construct a 2 classroom addition at Green Valley, Shiloh Hills and Spring Ridge Elementary Schools.

• Close Lincoln Park and West Wyomissing Elementary Schools.

• Total Estimated Project Cost$4,000,000.00

New Elementary School

Option 3

• Maintain Cornwall Terrace, Green Valley, Shiloh Hills, Spring Ridge, and Whitfield Elementary Schools with recommended alterations.

• New Elementary School (304 Student Building).



Reduction of Support Facilities

Option 4

• Maintain Cornwall Terrace, Green Valley, Shiloh Hills, Spring Ridge, and Whitfield with recommended alterations.


• Use LGI Spaces as Classrooms at Green Valley, Shiloh Hills and Spring Ridge Elementary Schools.


Additions

Option 2 (revised)

• Maintain Cornwall Terrace, Green Valley, Shiloh Hills, Spring Ridge and Whitfield – no interior structural alterations.

• Construct 4 classroom additions at Green Valley, Shiloh Hills, and Spring Ridge Elementary Schools.



Lincoln Park & West Wyomissing Administrative

Recommendation

Based on the expectation that the Wilson School District deliver an exemplary educational program in a cost efficient manner our administrative recommendation is as follows:

• Close Lincoln Park and West Wyomissing Elementary Schools at the conclusion of the 2011-12 school year.

• Implement Option 2 (revised) with the intent to add 4 classrooms at Green Valley, Spring Ridge and Shiloh Hills Elementary Schools.

• Implement the redistricting plan that will be explained in this presentation.

REDISTRICTING

Explain the need for redistricting

Our last redistricting effort took place approximately six years ago. We now find that we are in need of revisions to our present elementary boundaries in order to address the closing recommendation with Lincoln Park and West Wyomissing. In addition, we have class size variance documented in our various grade level classrooms. This redistricting model would be in place for the 2012-13 school year.

The redistricting plan will be discussed in more detail at the individual elementary school sessions at which time questions will be addressed.

Variance in class size

High enrollment, 25 or more in a classroom K to 2 and 27 or more 3 to 5:

(Current)

Grade 1, Whitfield, 100 students/4 teachers 25 per class

(increased aide hours)Grade 3, Whitfield, 108 students/4 teachers 27-27-28-28 per class (teacher aide added)Grade 4, Whitfield, 114 students/4 teachers 28-28-29-29 (teacher aide added)

Grade K, Spring Ridge 76 students/3 teachers 25-25-26 (increased aide hours)Grade 3, Spring Ridge, 81 students/3 teachers 27 per class (teacher aide added)

Areas of ConcernLow enrollment, 20 or less in a classroom:

Grade 1, Cornwall Terrace, 72 stud./4 teachers 18 per classGrade 1, Green Valley, 59 students/3 teachers 20 per classGrade 3, Green Valley, 56 students/3 teachers 19 per classGrade 4, Green Valley, 81 students/4 teachers 20 per classGrade 1, Lincoln Park, 17 students/1 teacher 17 per class Grade 4, Lincoln Park, 19 students/1 teacher 19 per classGrade 5, Lincoln Park, 17 students/1 teacher 17 per classGrade K, Shiloh Hills, 52 students/3 teachers 17 per classGrade 1, Shiloh Hills, 52 students/3 teachers 17 per classGrade 2, Shiloh Hills, 61 students/3 teachers 20 per classGrade 5, Shiloh Hills, 57 students/3 teachers 19 per classGrade K, West Wyomissing, 34 stud./2 teachers 17 per classGrade 1, West Wyomissing, 36 stud./2 teachers 18 per classGrade 2, West Wyomissing, 37 stud./2 teachers 18-19 per classGrade 5, West Wyomissing, 19 stud./1 teacher 19 per class

Building Size Comparison

Pre-Middle School Middle School Proposed Plan

Cornwall Terrace 626 536543Green Valley 480 371 513Lincoln Park 127 122 0Shiloh Hills 431 357 523Spring Ridge 455 429513West Wyomissing 216 1950Whitfield 642 609 528

Potential Ramifications

Proposed Model & Potential Ramifications if closure is the selected option:

In our proposed redistricting model we would create 20 classrooms at each grade level in our five remaining elementary schools.

Based on current grade level numbers, we would achieve class averages of kindergarten: 21, first grade: 20, second grade: 22, third grade: 24, fourth grade: 23 and fifth grade: 21.

Potential Ramifications

If we find we have concerns with regard to class size we have a number of options:

• Increase aide hours• Add certified teacher aides to

class levels• Add an additional classroom

at the grade level

General Comments:

If you presently go to Cornwall Terrace Elementary, Green Valley Elementary or Shiloh Hills Elementary you will continue to go to these schools in the future. Based on many iterations it did not make sense to move the present students in these buildings.

A segment of the Spring Ridge and Whitfield Elementary Schools will change elementary locations.

Lincoln Park students will attend Shiloh Hills and the majority of West Wyomissing students will attend Spring Ridge.

We will review this in greater detail at each of the elementary sessions focusing in on the effect that the redistricting recommendation has on each population that we are speaking to that evening.

CLASSROOM USAGEWith 4 classrooms added to the 3 buildings:

• Allows for continued use of the rooms in the building as designed.

• Provides room for growth.

• Least disruptive to the educational program.

Transportation• Placement of Bus Stops in Lincoln Park & West

Wyomissingo Multiple bus stops in most neighborhoods

Place bus stops with safety in mind Create bus stops of moderate size Not too small, not too large

o Minimize travel time between bus stops

• Potential Pick-up and Drop-Off Timeso Will be determined by final routing scheduleo Goal is to have all students to school ten

(10) minutes prior to the start of the school day and picked up by 3:30 at the latest.

Transportation cont’dRide Times• Approximate ride times to and from Lincoln Park

and West Wyomissingo Time for all stops – approx. 10-15 minuteso Travel time to schools – approx. 15 minutes

• Possible transportation changes • Modifications to existing routes

Re-evaluation of existing bus stop locations Re-evaluation of bus stop sequencing

o Changes should be minimal; services may not be identical to this year’s times

o Goal—to enhance our overall service and safety

o Maximize walking areas wherever possible

Transportation cont’dOur buildings are located relatively close to each other.

Spring Ridge to Green Valley – 4.3 miles

Lincoln Park to Shiloh Hills – 4.2 miles Whitfield to Green Valley – 3.2 miles West Wyomissing to Spring Ridge –

2.1 miles Whitfield to Cornwall Terrace – 1.6

Miles

Human Resources

Support Staff

Instructional Staff

Activities for Elementary Transition

Activities for Students & Families ☻ Visitation days in the Spring & Summer ☻ Orientation Program ☻ Letter Writing (pen pals) ☻ Buddy System assignments ☻ Family Tours at New School ☻ Bus Ride Orientation (incl. safety tips) ☻ Meet the Principal

Activities for Staff

☻ New Community Day ☻ Family Tour at New School ☻ Meet the Principal Event ☻ Common “Summer Reading”

Transition toThe

Middle Schools

Middle School☻ A welcome letter will be sent to the

identified families who will be shifted to a different middle school.

☻Counselors and Principals will meet with the students and their families.

☻The identified students will visit their newly assigned middle schools in

the spring for tours and to meet the staff.

Middle School☻Students will be involved in writing letters to current middle school students and in receiving letters from current middle school students discussing the realities of middle school life.

☻ Students will participate in orientation programs in August at each middle school.

☻ Efforts will be made to group transferred students from common elementary schools in the same sections and they will be grouped together during the sixth grade camp experience.

Financial ImplicationsSavings

The closure of both Lincoln Park and West Wyomissing buildings will result in savings of at least $500,000.00, which will be realized from positions being eliminated and reduction of utilities.

The appropriate expenditure lines in the 2012-13 budget will be eliminated /reduced, freeing up money to help cover other areas.

Financial ImplicationsCosts

Administration is recommending the addition of 4 classrooms each at Green Valley, Shiloh Hills and Spring Ridge at a total estimated cost of $4,000,000.00

If approved, the board will have the following options to cover these costs:

~ Take entire amount from Capital Reserve Fund~ Take a portion from Capital Reserve Fund and a portion from the Construction Fund~ Issue a new bond

Implications for the Lincoln Park & West Wyomissing Campus

Locations

If the decision is made to close our Lincoln Park and West Wyomissing campus locations our Board of Directors would work closely with our community and township officials to engage in planning that meets the needs of the district and surrounding community.

Follow Up Informational Meetings

Follow Up Meetings at each elementary school.

Feb 7 – Whitfield 6:30 p.m.Feb 8 – Spring Ridge 6:30 p.m.Feb 9 – Cornwall Terrace 7:00 p.m.Feb 13 – Green Valley 7:00 p.m.Feb 14 – Shiloh Hills 7:00 p.m.

Feb 15 – LP/WW (at WW) 6:30 p.m.

7:00 Monday, March 12th : This would be a special meeting held to render the official vote. The Meeting will be held in the Auditorium at Wilson West Middle School.

Review the administrative team findings in regard to the recommendation with our two smaller schools...

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