March 6, 2009 UPDATE - February 25, 2009 At the February 24 Board of Education meeting, held in the auditorium of Edison Intermediate School, the Board unanimously approved for second reading the new intermediate attendance zone and transportation policies (8110 and 8600). In order to alleviate overcrowding in Roosevelt Intermediate School, incoming sixth graders residing on 26 streets in the Washington School area will be part of Edison Intermediate School beginning September 2009. Families who would have one student in Roosevelt and one in Edison at the same time will have the option to keep both children in the same school. This option would be in effect from 2009 - 2013. These students would be "grandfathered" under this proposal and families can opt to keep the children in either Roosevelt or Edison. Bus transportation to Edison Intermediate School will be provided for students in the new attendance zone. There will be significant support structures in place for the transition and Dr. Dolan stated that she is confident that this plan will provide a positive and comparable delivery of education to all of our intermediate school students while having the least negative impact on the district's budget. UPDATE - February 23, 2009 The Westfield Board of Education has received many inquiries and comments from the public regarding the intermediate redistricting plan recommended by the Superintendent on January 13, 2009. In response, the Long Range Planning Committee and the Curriculum, Instruction and Programs Committee have each compiled a report. For your convenience, these reports are attached below . Attachments: CIP_report_2.23.09.pdf LRP_Report_2.23.09.pdf February 4, 2009 Update The Westfield Board of Education at its February 3rd public meeting, approved for first reading the new attendance zone for intermediate school. The second reading is scheduled for Tuesday, February 24. The meeting will begin at 8 PM at Edison Intermediate School. Scroll to the bottom of the page to view the Superintendent's presentation of 2.2.09. Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Intermediate School Enrollment 2009 - 2013 1. Q. Why is the district once again looking into the enrollments of Edison and Roosevelt Intermediate Schools? A. It is clear that current elementary enrollments will affect the population of our intermediate schools in the near future, threatening the continuation of appropriate education at Roosevelt, which has fewer and smaller classrooms than Edison. 2. Q. With the exception of size, are Edison and Roosevelt similar? A. Students at both Edison and Roosevelt receive the same education. * Course offerings, curricula and extra-curricula activities are the same. * Each school's principal served as the other school's assistant principal. * 23 current teachers have worked in both schools in their careers. * Department supervisors oversee teachers in both buildings. * The same percentage of 2004 graduates of Edison and Roosevelt are now recognized as Bloustein Scholars by the Department of Education. 3. Q . Why is there a concern for future delivery of education to Roosevelt students? A. Roosevelt's building capacity for an appropriate education is 250 per grade, or 750 for the school. If nothing is done to change enrollment numbers, 290 sixth graders will enter Roosevelt in September, with a total school enrollment of 809 students, grades 6 - 8. 4. Q. How do we gain optimal building usage in both of our intermediate schools? A. Change attendance zones so that Edison Intermediate School, with a building capacity for 950 students, will house 845 by September 2013. Roosevelt, with a capacity of 750, would house 738. 5. Q. What is the plan? A. Beginning for September 2009 all 6th grade students and all newly registered 7th and 8th grade students residing in the new attendance zone will attend Edison Intermediate School. See #9 for streets included in the new attendance zone for Edison. 6. Q. What does the plan accomplish? A. The plan would provide: * Optimal building usage * Comparable delivery of quality curriculum to both schools * Minimal disruption to families * Minimal staff increases * No additional buses 7. Q. How was the plan developed? A. The guiding principles of the superintendent and Long Range Planning Committee of the Board of Education include: Keeping neighborhoods together, considering safety, impact on families and schools, costs - such as staffing and transportation -- and the new state regulations for transportation. 8. Q. Are there any other options other than changing attendance zones? A. District attempts at other options, including voluntary programs recommended by citizen advisory committees (in 2001 and 2006) have been unsuccessful. 9. Q. How was the attendance zone selected? A. In order to move the minimum amount of students, keep neighborhoods together, and meet DOE transportation requirements, the district has selected the following streets to become part of the Edison Intermediate School community beginning Sept. 2009: Coolidge St. Cranford Ave Drummond Rd. E. Broad St. (even numbers from 810 to end) Fairacres Ave. (802 - 882) Fairview Ave. Folkstone Dr. Gallows Hill Rd. Harding St. Manitou Circle Marlin Ct. Michael Drive Morris Ave. Nomahegan Dr Sandra Circle Settlers Lane Sherbrooke Dr. Sherman St. Springfield Ave. (206 - 387) St Marks Ave. (800-962) Stevens Ave. Unami Terrace Union St. Wells St. West Ct. Woodbrook Circle 10 Q. What happens if a family in the new attendance zone already has a child attending Roosevelt? A. Families who would have one student in Roosevelt and one in Edison at the same time will have the option to keep both children in the same school. This option would be in effect from 2009 - 2013. These students would be "grandfathered" under this proposal and families can opt to keep the children in either Roosevelt or Edison. 11. Q. Will bus transportation be provided? A. Yes, bus transportation to Edison Intermediate School will be provided for students in the new attendance zone. 12. Q. Were any other neighborhoods considered for the new intermediate school zone other than Washington School? A. Yes. Many other areas were considered, but numbers of students on streets, adherence to state accountability regulations regarding transportation, costs, and safety were all factors in the decision. 13. Q. What arrangements will be made for the families who are involved? A. There will be "welcome" activities planned for the families, including an orientation at Edison Intermediate School. The first event will be held Wed., Feb. 11, at 7- 8:15 PM in celebration of Thomas Edison's birthday. Students and parents of both schools are invited. 14 Q. When will this plan be brought to the Board of Education for action? A. The Westfield Board of Education will vote on the superintendent's recommendation for first reading at its meeting on Tuesday, FEBRUARY 3 (note change of date), at 8 PM at Edison Intermediate School. The second reading will be on Tuesday, February 24, at 8 PM. Any comments or questions can be sent to wboe@westfieldnjk12.org. 15. Q. What other consequences of the plan will be reviewed in the future? A. The Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction will meet with principals, supervisors and teachers from both schools to review the existing program of studies and determine the best delivery of instruction as the district's enrollment continues to grow. Information added as of January 28, 2009: 16. Q. Since every effort will be made to place Washington sixth graders attending Edison on the same academic teams, can this opportunity also be afforded to Washington sixth graders who will be attending Roosevelt ? A. Yes. Both the principals of Edison and Roosevelt have agreed to this consideration. 17. Q. Why wasn't the installation of a trailer or the addition of classrooms considered for Roosevelt's overcrowding? A. These options were considered, but were rejected because of additional costs that would be incurred by the Westfield Public Schools. This expense is not necessary since there is an availability of space at Edison Intermediate School, which offers the same educational program. 18. Q. Have other school zoning changes occurred in the Westfield Public Schools? A. Yes, the redistricting history dates back several decades. Since 1991 there have been changes to school zones approximately every six years. Changes in family population on various streets in Westfield directly affect the enrollment at any given school. As with population, there is no guarantee that school zones remain constant. 19. Q. How long will the bus route from the new Washington intermediate school zone take to arrive at Edison Intermediate School? A. The bus routes would be mapped out with the assistance of the busing company, but we estimate that the routes would take approximately 30 - 40 minutes from the first bus stop to Edison Intermediate School. CLICK BELOW TO VIEW DR. DOLAN'S JANUARY AND FEBRUARY PRESENTATIONS