AISD staff members will present the map to Mills parents on December 2 at 5:30pm. We'll have comment cards to collect your feedback on the plan at that time.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Plan 1
Here are the numbers comparing the population projections for 2010-2011 and 2013-2014, when comparing existing boundaries to boundaries under Plan 1 (the plan approved by the FUBTF last week.) You can download the entire map at the Task Force Website.
AISD staff members will present the map to Mills parents on December 2 at 5:30pm. We'll have comment cards to collect your feedback on the plan at that time.
AISD staff members will present the map to Mills parents on December 2 at 5:30pm. We'll have comment cards to collect your feedback on the plan at that time.
Friday, November 20, 2009
November 18 Meeting
I was waiting until the AISD posted the revised map, but since they haven't yet, I'll go ahead and tell you what happened at the meeting on Wednesday.
The task force voted for a map that will be taken around to all the Campus Advisory Councils of the schools involved in the boundary changes. That started with Boone Elementary last night. A complete list of meetings is on the Task Force Website. (click on the Nov. 18 agenda)
The district will be presenting the map to Mills' CAC on December 2 at 5:30. We plan to have comment cards to collect your thoughts on the plan.
In the "approved" plan, which is what I'll call the plan approved by the task force, Mills boundaries are the same as in Plan 0, which is posted on the blog. This plan basically moves Vintage Place and Park Place, removing about 100 kids from our total population.
There seems to be an opportunity for Mills to reduce further, and that was proposed by a couple of the task force members. After more movement, space has been freed up at Patton, and we could look at moving some students north, which would be within tracking (a priority of the task force.)
We will talk more about these options at the Dec. 2 meeting - I hope everyone will come and fill out a comment card. Because, even if you are not moving your child from Mills next year, you child will still be efffected by the total population at the school and by the type of reduction that we are able to achieve (ho much, whether we get some sort of grandfathering plan, etc.)
A quick note: I have disabled the comments section on the blog. I enjoyed reading the comments for a while, and it gave Lisa and I a chance to answer your questions, but it was taking up so much of my time to try and moderate the comments, that I had to disable them. I have a job and I need to keep it! Please understand that Lisa and I are doing this as volunteers. Thanks for your understanding.
The task force voted for a map that will be taken around to all the Campus Advisory Councils of the schools involved in the boundary changes. That started with Boone Elementary last night. A complete list of meetings is on the Task Force Website. (click on the Nov. 18 agenda)
The district will be presenting the map to Mills' CAC on December 2 at 5:30. We plan to have comment cards to collect your thoughts on the plan.
In the "approved" plan, which is what I'll call the plan approved by the task force, Mills boundaries are the same as in Plan 0, which is posted on the blog. This plan basically moves Vintage Place and Park Place, removing about 100 kids from our total population.
There seems to be an opportunity for Mills to reduce further, and that was proposed by a couple of the task force members. After more movement, space has been freed up at Patton, and we could look at moving some students north, which would be within tracking (a priority of the task force.)
We will talk more about these options at the Dec. 2 meeting - I hope everyone will come and fill out a comment card. Because, even if you are not moving your child from Mills next year, you child will still be efffected by the total population at the school and by the type of reduction that we are able to achieve (ho much, whether we get some sort of grandfathering plan, etc.)
A quick note: I have disabled the comments section on the blog. I enjoyed reading the comments for a while, and it gave Lisa and I a chance to answer your questions, but it was taking up so much of my time to try and moderate the comments, that I had to disable them. I have a job and I need to keep it! Please understand that Lisa and I are doing this as volunteers. Thanks for your understanding.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Message from Mrs. Butler
Michelle, Lisa and I discussed holding a CAC meeting, but I really don't think one is necessary.
After lengthy discussions and reviewing the demographic projections for Mills, as well as the other schools affected by the boundary changes, I have told Michelle and Lisa that I think Plan 0 is acceptable. While I think we would benefit from more significant relief than Plan 0 provides, I don’t think there is really an acceptable alternative. With Plan 0 we will initially lose 100 students (on paper, anyway), with our enrollment projected to stabilize and then very gradually decline over the next 3 to 5 years. I anticipate losing between 2 and 4 classrooms, depending on how many fifth graders are grandfathered and how many siblings are granted transfers.
There is no decision that will appear "right" to everyone, but this seems to be the one that provides some measure of relief, while preserving neighborhoods and community.
Pat Butler, Principal
Mills Elementary School
841-2406
A note from Lisa and Michelle: We have always said we would work for what the parents and school leadership of Mills wants. We have been studying overcrowding relief at Mills for more than a year, and have suggested many options (which most of you are exploring on the blog now). Believe us, we have looked at everything. Throughout this process, we believe that we have always worked for what was best for the school and the students, and not just our families.
What's next?
The FUBTF will vote on a plan at the next meeting, Wednesday, November 18, and at that time we will make sure task force members know that our school leadership is behind Plan 0. The plan that's approved by the FUBTF task force will be presented to the Mills Campus Advisory Council on December 2 at 5:30pm. We will collect comments on the plan approved by the FUBTF at that meeting.
After lengthy discussions and reviewing the demographic projections for Mills, as well as the other schools affected by the boundary changes, I have told Michelle and Lisa that I think Plan 0 is acceptable. While I think we would benefit from more significant relief than Plan 0 provides, I don’t think there is really an acceptable alternative. With Plan 0 we will initially lose 100 students (on paper, anyway), with our enrollment projected to stabilize and then very gradually decline over the next 3 to 5 years. I anticipate losing between 2 and 4 classrooms, depending on how many fifth graders are grandfathered and how many siblings are granted transfers.
There is no decision that will appear "right" to everyone, but this seems to be the one that provides some measure of relief, while preserving neighborhoods and community.
Pat Butler, Principal
Mills Elementary School
841-2406
A note from Lisa and Michelle: We have always said we would work for what the parents and school leadership of Mills wants. We have been studying overcrowding relief at Mills for more than a year, and have suggested many options (which most of you are exploring on the blog now). Believe us, we have looked at everything. Throughout this process, we believe that we have always worked for what was best for the school and the students, and not just our families.
What's next?
The FUBTF will vote on a plan at the next meeting, Wednesday, November 18, and at that time we will make sure task force members know that our school leadership is behind Plan 0. The plan that's approved by the FUBTF task force will be presented to the Mills Campus Advisory Council on December 2 at 5:30pm. We will collect comments on the plan approved by the FUBTF at that meeting.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
New Plan 0 Projections
I scanned this in this morning - it's from the latest Plan 0 map that you can download for yourself at http://www.austinisd.org/inside/2004bond/boundaries/docs/bond_SWES_Plan0_with_student_projections.pdf
These numbers are NEW, based on population projections for 2010-2011 (in relation to permanent capacity of the school) and DO NOT include Transfers. This is an UPDATED map since the last one I posted last week.
Here are the current transfers for schools from AISD: (+ is incoming, - is outgoing)
Mills: +73
Kiker: +62
Clayton: -9
Oak Hill: -63
Sunset Valley -74
Cowan +32
Boone: +40
Patton: +43
Personally, I'm trying to keep an eye on these numbers, but the task force hasn't even talked about them yet.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
FUBTF Meeting, November 10
Wow, are we having fun yet?
I aparently ruffled some feathers tonight - I guess I got worked up about plans that accomplished little of the board's goals, and only benefited the school that was proposing them.
That being said - I heard from many parents tonight who are concerned about my push for additional relief for Mills beyond the 100 students who will be moved as a part of Plan "0".
Here's the thought process behind why we pushed for more relief:
1) Mrs. Butler said she needed additional relief to make the school function at its best. Currently, we are "functioning" at 131% of functional capacity and 124% of permanent capacity.
2) If we only move 100 students from Mills, the school's membership drops to around approximately 1000, but our school was built for 836. (That 1000 includes transfers - which is between 117-119%).
3) Impact on Special Areas: Mills would probably lose additional special area staff. Right now, we have 3 part-time teachers who come and teach special area classes, because we are so large. This prevents us from combining classes for art, music and p.e. If we drop our numbers just a little, we lose the staff and students will have to combine classes for special areas - and we will likely have 45 to a class again. Remember last year?
4) Moving only 100 students does little to offset transfers, which are likely to grow next year, as incoming 5th graders are grandfathered, along with their siblings. Transfers currently stand at 71. Once granted, a transfer is good for the life of a student's elementary career. So that number is not dropping.
5) Anyone see a tornado drill lately? The kids are stacked 3 deep on both sides of the halls - that's not likely to change much either.
6) With 100 students as relief, Mills is not likely to see the number of classrooms drop right away. Remember, Mills has no more room for portables.
Lisa and I weighed all these factors when asking for additional relief. However, we don't feel that asking for more relief opens us up to move across tracking lines. (and we know some of you disagree.)
So, we'd like you to weigh in:
- Should we only support Plan "0", which moves 100 students from Mills?
- Should we push for additional relief that is consistent with our existing tracking patterns to middle school?
The next boundary meeting is Wednesday, November 18.
I aparently ruffled some feathers tonight - I guess I got worked up about plans that accomplished little of the board's goals, and only benefited the school that was proposing them.
That being said - I heard from many parents tonight who are concerned about my push for additional relief for Mills beyond the 100 students who will be moved as a part of Plan "0".
Here's the thought process behind why we pushed for more relief:
1) Mrs. Butler said she needed additional relief to make the school function at its best. Currently, we are "functioning" at 131% of functional capacity and 124% of permanent capacity.
2) If we only move 100 students from Mills, the school's membership drops to around approximately 1000, but our school was built for 836. (That 1000 includes transfers - which is between 117-119%).
3) Impact on Special Areas: Mills would probably lose additional special area staff. Right now, we have 3 part-time teachers who come and teach special area classes, because we are so large. This prevents us from combining classes for art, music and p.e. If we drop our numbers just a little, we lose the staff and students will have to combine classes for special areas - and we will likely have 45 to a class again. Remember last year?
4) Moving only 100 students does little to offset transfers, which are likely to grow next year, as incoming 5th graders are grandfathered, along with their siblings. Transfers currently stand at 71. Once granted, a transfer is good for the life of a student's elementary career. So that number is not dropping.
5) Anyone see a tornado drill lately? The kids are stacked 3 deep on both sides of the halls - that's not likely to change much either.
6) With 100 students as relief, Mills is not likely to see the number of classrooms drop right away. Remember, Mills has no more room for portables.
Lisa and I weighed all these factors when asking for additional relief. However, we don't feel that asking for more relief opens us up to move across tracking lines. (and we know some of you disagree.)
So, we'd like you to weigh in:
- Should we only support Plan "0", which moves 100 students from Mills?
- Should we push for additional relief that is consistent with our existing tracking patterns to middle school?
The next boundary meeting is Wednesday, November 18.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
SWES Plan "0" Map
This is the first map presented by the AISD planning staff. Download the full PDF file at the FUBTF website.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Mills Name Badges for Tonights Meeting
For those going to the AISD Boundary Task Force Meeting tonight, Becca Thompson will have name badges that say Mills. She will be in the lobby handing them out so please stop by and get one. We want the task force to know that we are there. The meeting is at 5:45 at 1111 West 6th Street in Building B.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)