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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-21-2013_Public_Hearing-14 .1d ki ' -^~'__.~. ......... .... '`~. I - ^~.—,'`'```~'-~'~~~~~'^. ^' _-.'~~1—~-~-~.'._~.~~~~ 3497No�hAmmonxuad Idaho FaU�|dah�83401 (208 525�4O0 Fax (208) B9-0104 w�w.d9��hno|song /vom.��J ,y`a'k,uyo~munowu mx!Jmnm«ComvIi s"p01 iuu10mu Public Hearing Hillcrest High School Cafeteria March 21, 2013 i Call to Order Chairman Lords called the meeting to order at 7:04 pm. |L Roll CaU Those Board members present wemChairmo Craig Lords, Vice-chairman Annette Winchester, Treasurer Kip Nelson, TmsteeDovereHunt.aodTmstemWendy Herman were excused. Others m attendance were Deputy Superintendent M McConnell Financial/Operations Officer April Burton, Director of Human Resources Shalene French, Principal Tom Gauchay, Director of Operations Todd Hicks, Technician Josh Graham, Payroll Clerk Kristine Buttars, Principal Dan Page, Principal Ty Salsbery, Principal Kent Patterson, Falls Valley Teacher Rod Rapp, Principal Brian Armes Health and Safety Coordinator Guy Bliesner, Technology Director Scott Nou|oteohv|mo, School Board Candidates Amy Landers and Brian McBride, ESL Coordinator Lance Robertson, Energy Education Specialist Don TraLmtvein, Principal Ken Marlow, Transportation Manager Karen Judy, and Board Clerk Valerie Messick Chairman Lords explained that mo are here m hold meeting about boundary changes. This is the sixth boundary change in the District. The Boundary Proposals are just that. We will probably make twinks and changes. He introduced Shalene French to give an overview of how we got where we are, Chairman Lords thanked everyone for coming. xe explained that the Board and administration want todo what io best for children. The Board does listen and care about public input. Ms. French introduced Karen Judy, Transportation Manager. She stated that we have a program call Versa Trans that uses information from PowerSchool. It will break down the number of students in the grades and then piece the information together on how to make the boundaries fit. Chairman Lords introduced MaUoan McConnell, Deputy Superintendent, Board members Annette Winchester and Kip Nelson, and Valerie Messick, Board Clerk. He stated that two Board members are absent. Mrs. Herman i,m the legislature io Boise and Mr. Hunt is unavailable this evening but was available last evening. Chairman Lords encouraged those present to make comments on the survey that ioposted on the website. He explained the serving on the Board is a volunteer duty. They do it because they love the community and the kids. At this time the District has over 10,800 Students and we expect |1.U0Oby next year, The new school will alleviate pressure on Discovery and Falls Valley, People choose to live in the District and that is great news. We contracted Intermountain Demographics and they gave oo information nn growth and growth patterns. Wn noticed heavy growth in the north of the District and lately in the south. That ia the reason the new school was constructed in the north, Chairman Lords then introduced Mr. Tom Gauchay as the principal of the new school. Once the boundaries are determined, »o will get with parents and choose v school name and mascot. Chairman Lords also explained that the District is close to 11,000 students but down by $7 million it) funding from the State, Ho then opened the meeting for public input e, 7:15 p.m. and asked those who wished to speak to state their name and address for the record. ||i 2ukliclnp4d Comment womn Address Purchased farm near Iona and will move to Rimrock — Concerned they will be moved back to RMMS without any history or association with those kids — Iona is a small town with small town Gina Hill mmE Lincoln Rd feel — it takes away our school and our town — no neighbors going to Rlmrock with us — only two fvloved to Mountain Valley — Why is it a magnet school? Why did you rezone to require students to participate m that curriculum? What are my options? What are my chances m being denied Janaohnoh o209G Tappan Falls | open enrollment m another school in the District? Doesn't want that curriculum for her kids, � Mrs. McConnell stated that ww did build Mountain Valley aua focus STEM school. However, i|i» not 180% open enrollment. Ne left space for others m come iomthe school, The curriculum is aligned like any other curriculum but with more focus on math, science and technology. There will not be a huge transition. With regard mopen enrollment, 85% of enrollment capacity is the cutoff, We will move the deadline for open enrollment to the end of June this year. Mr. Arms, principal at Mountain Valley stated that when we talk about common core it will change testing. Currently we are not building great thinkers in our upper grades. We want to foster advanced inquiry. x lot of the current curriculum iu going m fade away. Mountain Valley in aligned m state standards. i Concerned about being moved. Started at Woodland Hills, then Mountain Valley, flow another 3n4aauvmo,omuk move. There is only a hand full of families. Why are You moving just our few? Chad Johnson Founders Point LKids are on the bus for 45 minutes — Concerned about the change in curriculum — Have made investments to get specific equipment at Woodland Hills that we will no longer »ovoamennto - Lori Holden o83Oe Middle Fork nd hat programs will there be to compensate? oodland Hills — less ralfuture move again than a mile from Woodland Hills now going to Mountain Valley - looks like Camnmmowouon»oo 4821s491h S nh|y want stability for kids - Have you thought about the future? iChairman Lords stated that we believe there will be future moves - the inner schools have also experienced those - we are here to listen - students will unfortunately | ooad�homm*d | I Comment Name Address Lots of families have been moved a number of times — need to change from Surviving to thriving — Camille Giauq it Would be better if they could thrive - is there a way to fix this? ue 5379 S 451, E C har"nan Lords answered that we had a proposal to put all elementaries in one location — we decided to have community schools — we cannot bus 7,000 students — vv e an to have schools close enough so students can walk — In the areas around Mountain Valley, Rinirock, and Discovery, new homes create continual change - we do n I wa nt to move children more than we have to - boundaries were shaped on numbers - we try to keep communities together as Much as possible and hopefully use Bridgewater —emotions are running high — moved from Cloverdale to Bridgewater — kids love Bridgewater why are we loosing so many students? — Struggling because of 80% of free and reduced lunch - this shows in our ability to function — fears for Bridgewater maybe you could Kacey Torman 3026 Silver Circle reove Woodbridge to Bridgewater instead of having them go to the new school IOur time at Mountain Valley has been amazing — Hoping to sooth parents fears about going to Kelly Anderson 6780 S 46t' E Mountain Valley - request Cul-de-sac with 4 homes with children be put into Mountain Valley �Don't have children in any schools — bussing options of Hillview in two locals why do we continue to bus individuals to Hillview? Looking ahead — will there be another middle school or high school Scott McKoviac 2375 Wyatt Ave in the District boundaries? Chairman Lords responded that we bus kids for safety reasons as well. The question about another middle school and high school is a good question. We don't have a place big enough to house kids coming from the elementaries. We have four trailers at Hillcrest and will add two more, Our ability to bond is at a maximum. We are looking at 9th grade academies, possibly looking at expanding the high schools, looking at building a 3rd middle school then there Would be problems with three middle schools feeding two high schools — looking at split sessions — we are looking at options. Splits a neighborhood in half — please don't split them in half — will we have a choice to go to either school? — can we exchange addresses? — they won't perform as well when buddies aren't Kevin Rhoades 5477 E 651h S �as 2 children starting next fall and 2 sixth graders — Bridgewater is a pretty rough school - osing Students at an alarming rate — there is a real problem - What is going to be done? Kid are cing to private school, home school, charter school — they are driven away because the situation is so poor — We feel like an inner city school - What help will Bridgewater be given? It feels like a 4279 Amber Lane whole other town, What is the plan to help students and families want to be there? — Open Ilene Stolwoiftiy Bridgewater Subdivision enrollment is a great idea until you no longer can go there. Is there some way kids can stay instead of being forced out? — We have tremendous teachers and a tremendous principal — We understand the high number of free and reduced children — faculty works so well — We just need to do something to help them. Dr. 8hackeK stated that it needs to be left LIP N the principal as to whether astudent is granted open enrollment. Our commitment uthat whatever school students attend they will have quality teachers and quality principals. Principal Kent Peterson, Tiebreaker Elementary, stated that he has denied some open enrollment based on numbers - it causes heartburn — if Students move out during the year, they can stay for the academic year — they must apply for open enrollment annually - often we are not able to make a decision until a day or 2 before school begins because enrollment numbers change daily. Woodland Hills moved to Mountain Valley — not afraid of new school — moving students out I does the school a disservice - We get attached to the school — don't want to join the PTO in the Natalie Bogren new school — Wants her son to do his eagle project at their school — Is frustrate( 5235 E Redonda Cir Chairman Lords stated that the problem is that somebody's child has to be moved — We are thankful you are here tonight to look out for your child — We have to look Out for 11,000 students — My children went to 5 different schools — My daughter bussed to Telford to go to kindergarten — We understand no one wants it to be there's but we have to move someone I Kids go to Falls Valley is it more feasible to bus kids to a different school that live in walking Kyle Bailey 2064 Meppen Dr distance to the Current school? I I I Karen Judy stated that we bus kids who live across the street from Falls Valley for safety reasons — We look at safety bussing every year — We look at a rating scale — if the risk is greater than 65, the kids are bussed - About 2300 Students are bussed because of safety — We are reimbursed between 50% and 80% by the state forsafety bussing I Is there a date that this will all be over ? Kat foster 630 Falls Dr. The decision should be made by Board meeting on April 10, 2013, Once we get the boundaries solidified, we need to select teachers, get a school name. Teachers will be able to transfer around the District, I Started m Bridgewater moved m Woodland HUb— nowmMmmminValley — There is not a radical difference in Curriculum — Math is far better than Saxon The kids are taught wthink Julianne Anderson 6780o461hs umomntly — Stilldo*wamn typmofmniculum — snW�h --etc. Open enrollment — once in you are in they should be able w stay m, they are allowed to progress through the curriculum. This concept worked well in Wisconsin — Both plans are the same. Halley Gorden 00rO High C�vk Gugqnoudthat �md�idadown Ammon mad—�mwuuNeUmwaU kids mmeywgn(oo,and CommLomo allow kids oo the hill m stay together Mrs, Judy responded that there are too many children io that area m allow uom make Ammon the dividing line Doesn't like having kids across the street going to a different school — please consider that — | Becky Rhoades | 5477sO»m ! | cnmmLuma Lori Holden asked how the school change Would affect the time on the bus. Mrs. Judy responded that we like to run busses full and we anticipate a shorter bus ride for your kids. That is specific to You, others may have a longer ride There was discussion regarding the District's intention for building Mountain Valley, It is there for parental choice. Why is there extra money for Mountain Valley when no one else has to do the same things? Pilot and money from a grant was used. The option to enroll is the definition of a magnet school, Why is Mountain Valley different if it is not a magnet school? All schools are different. The curriculUrn is aligned to the State Common Core and to STEM, You gave Lis the choice to opt in, why not give us the choice to opt out? Open enrollment is the same at Mountain Valley as at other schools. Mountain Valley does a great job emphasizing math and science, There was a question regarding whether the District is planning on educating parents whose students are going to go to Mountain Valley, There was a Suggestion that parents research the common core by going to the District website to see how Mountain Valley is aligned. Teachers at Mountain Valley have been trained in MTI. Many schools in the District have their teachers trained as well. There was a question regarding whether the District is researching to see what the growth is at Mountain Valley compared to the other schools. We are watching the data very closely. It doesn't make sense to move kids away from that curriculum if you are making studies, There was a question regarding what would be done to help Bridgewater. It was alleged that students at Bridgewater are not getting all equal education. There was a request to add more students to help provide role models. There are a handful of parents who are carrying the load. There is a need to bring in more students who have support and have basic appropriate basic values Smart Students can't go any further and are leaving the school. Chairman Lords asked the patron was asking the District to bus children into Bridgewater. The response was that maybe we could bus Ivan's Acres to Bridgewater. We don't have a lot of parent support and the cancer is spreading there. Chairman Lords stated that we hope to offer choice at the high school level. We have the Technical Careers High School and Bonneville Online is a home school opportunity that offers social activities for Students. High school students can go to the online school to catch up or to get ahead. Ty Salsbery, principal of Bonneville Online Schools stated that they currently have 154 students who are home schooled and we support 55 students who are taking four coursed or more. Are all schools going to common core - yeas 47 of 50 states are going to common core - we are working in that direction aligning so we make Sure Students are ready Smarter balance assessments Chairman Lords asked if there were others who would like to speak. He then asked how many wanted to be moved to another school. There was only one. Some children will do ok, others will not. We will do the best we can. We are still growing. It is booming in the north now. We have purchased property in South as well. That will affect Woodland Hills and Mountain Valley. Please email or comment on the online Survey. We will look the maps and twink them using the input from the meetings and the survey. We will try to make a decision by second Wednesday in April. The new boundaries will be posted on the website. We will send notices out when we have made the decision on the new boundaries. VI. Adiournment Chairman Lords thanked everyone for their input and stated that we value your input. He then asked fore motion to adjourn at 8:21 Motion: Kip Nelson made the motion to adjourn. Annette Winchester seconded. The vote was 3 in favor with 0 opposed and 0 abstentions. Motion passed. APPROVED: Chairperson ATTESTED: Clerk Date: