HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-01-2018 Minutes Community Information MeetingDr. Charles J. Shackett, Superintendent Marjean McConnell, Deputy Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme, Assistant Superintendent
3497 North Ammon Road, Idaho Falls, Idaho, 83401 (208) 525-4400 Fax (208) 529-0104 www.d93schools.org
Board of Trustees Paul Jenkins Amy Landers Chad Dance Greg Calder Scott Lynch
Bonneville Joint School District No. 93 is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Community Information Meeting May 1, 2018 7:00 PM Sandcreek Middle School Cafeteria 2955 E Owen St, Ammon, ID I. Call to Order Chairman Paul Jenkins called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. II. Roll Call Amy Landers present Chad Dance absent, arrived at 7:28 p.m. Greg Calder present Scott Lynch present Paul Jenkins present III. Welcome Visitors and Delegations Those in attendance were Deputy Superintendent Marjean McConnell, Assistant Superintendent Scott Woolstenhulme, Director of Instruction & Learning Jason Lords, Energy Education Specialist Don Trauntvein, Community Relations and Communications Phil Campbell, D93News Samantha Williams, Food Services Supervisor Heather Plain, Hillview Principal Dr. Elise Saffle, Tiebreaker Principal Kent Patterson, Ammon Principal John Murdoch, and Board Clerk Mary Hansen. IV. District Boundary Presentations – Scott Woolstenhulme Mr. Woolstenhulme informed the Board and those present the reasons for boundary changes were to equalize school enrollment numbers, balance staffing, building capacity. According to the survey sent to patrons and parents in the spring of 2017, responders indicated the best way to deal with growth in order of preference was to change boundaries and build new schools; using modular trailers was last on the list. It is highly probable that over 100 new homes will soon be occupied in the Iona boundaries and in the Woodland Hills area many new subdivisions are being built. A. Proposal 1: Move Iona Elementary students in the East Falls Brook area to Tiebreaker Elementary – The last time the Falls Brook area was moved due to a boundary change was 8 years ago and created an island for Iona Elementary boundaries. By moving Falls Brook to Tiebreaker will create a continuous boundary. The preschool held currently in Tiebreaker will be moved to Falls Valley. B. Proposal 2A: Move Woodland Hills Elementary students west of Ammon Road to Hillview Elementary – This option will move students from overcrowded classrooms at Woodland Hills and help fill staffing needs at Hillview. It will create an island for the Hillview boundaries. C. Proposal 2B: Move Woodland Hills Elementary students west of Ammon Road to Ammon Elementary and move Ammon Elementary students north of 25th Street to Hillview Elementary – This option will create a continuous boundary for the Woodland Hills neighborhood with Ammon Elementary; however, it will reduce the funding for the Title One program, teachers and paraprofessionals from Ammon Elementary. V. Public Input Patron input comments:
Community/neighborhood schools are important
Proposal 2A will keep boundaries more secure since it is not likely to grow
Cannot plan school boundaries around local church boundaries; religious talk is not appropriate in this discussion
Postpone changes until next year
Repurpose Ammon Elementary
Good intervention programs at Hillview
Students can feel isolated and separated from other students when bussed in from outlying areas
Large classrooms are not ideal; educational standpoint is more important than boundary changes
Current Tiebreaker students move on to Sandcreek MS and Falls Brooks students will move on to Rocky Mountain MS
Students are resilient to change; change is a part of life
Don’t create islands
Computer lab at Woodland Hills is used during the winter months when moving the computer cart in the weather is not possible
Hillview will welcome new students from Woodland Hills
Boundary changes need to happen
Move grades K-3 first, let grades 4-6 remain at the school
What are the safety concerns of trailers at Hillview?
Response to emails requested
Social economics status is different between the area north of 25th and the Brookside neighborhood; students on the north need stability and students on the south will have more opportunity to interact
Growth will continue and new elementary schools will need to be built District input:
Minimum of 7 years between changes for elementary age students; long term boundary changes
Focusing on what’s best for kids; moving less students is best
New subdivisions being built in the Woodland Hills area will bring more students
Ammon has been updated to meet state safety codes and with wireless access and can be repurposed after the district quits growing
Ammon is not ADA compliant. Students with need of those provisions will be enrolled in other district elementary schools
Target enrollment per elementary is 500 students; however, with the growth in the area, it increases to 650 students
Counselors and support programs are available in all schools to help students who need help with changes
Students will experience changes when moving to middle school and then to high school
Two trailers can be placed at both Ammon and Hillview
If current students remain at Woodland Hills, the computer lab will need to be closed and used as a classroom
It’s important now to focus on changes prepare for next year’s growth
Ammon’s staff will remain stable, excepting if the Title One program is revoked, teachers and paraprofessionals will be re-located
All students are valued; all are important
Open enrollment is available for any student to attend another school outside of their attendance area; open enrollment is determined by the building principal and available classroom space
To make a boundary change or not – That is the question
Splitting families between two different schools will be hard on the transportation department; double bussing is not possible
Campus walls can be placed around the trailers and safety gates will be installed at Hillview Elementary
It is difficult to determine the number of new students who will be living in the new subdivisions; estimate 2.2 per household Review of the elementary boundary change proprieties:
Meet identified enrollment targets
Use of available space
Zone neighborhoods close to schools
Design boundary changes for a minimum of seven years
Balance social economic targets
Make continuous boundaries as much as practicable
Align elementary schools with middle and high school boundaries Marjean McConnell personally thanked the Board for their time and effort in behalf of the District, providing true community service. VI. Adjournment Chairman Jenkins adjourned the meeting at 8:42 p.m. MOTION: Chad Dance moved to adjourn. Amy Landers seconded. The vote was 5 in favor with 0 opposed and 0 abstentions. Motion carried. APPROVED: ________________________________ ATTESTED: ______________________________________ Chairman Clerk
Date: ________________________________