Hey everyone,
I just got off the phone with Robert Schneider, our Board of Trustees Representative. He says that when we send an email to trustees@austinisd.org, it goes to the Board secretary which collates the letters and places them into a binder for the trustees. However, there's no guarantee that the board representatives will see the letters.
If you would like a better chance for the board representatives to read your letter, you will have to resort to the US Mail. Print your letter and MAIL it to the following addresses (published on the AustinISD website.) Yes, I know - it's a lot of stamps.
Mark Williams, District 5, President
Term Expires: May 2012
2801 Scenic Drive
Austin, TX 78703
OFFICE: 414-2590
Vincent M. Torres, District 4, Vice President
Term Expires: May 2010
1111 W. 6th Street A250
Austin, TX 78703
OFFICE: 414-2550
Lori Moya, District 6, Secretary
Term Expires: May 2010
1111 W 6th Street, A-250
Austin, TX 78703
OFFICE: 414-2610
Cheryl Bradley, District 1
Term Expires: May 2010
1198 Angelina
Austin, TX 78702
OFFICE: 472-9554
Sam Guzman, District 2
Term Expires: May 2012
1111 W 6th Street, A-250
Austin, TX 78703
OFFICE: 414-2530
Christine Brister, District 3
Term Expires: May 2012
1111 W. 6th Street, A-250
Austin, TX 78703
OFFICE: 414-2570
Robert Schneider, District 7
Term Expires: May 2010
8031 Doe Meadow Drive
Austin, TX 78749
CELL: 619-3973
Annette LoVoi, At-Large Position 8
Term Expires: May 2012
1111 W. 6th Street A250
Austin, TX 78703
OFFICE: 414-2560
Karen Dulaney Smith, At-Large Position 9
Term Expires: May 2010
1111 W. 6th Street A250
Austin, TX 78703
OFFICE: 414-9609
Mills needs to be represented at the next two board meetings, Feb. 8 which is a work session and when the FUBTF Plan will be presented to the board. The board will vote on the plan Feb. 22, which is the next time the board will allow public comments. To find out more about how to sign up to speak at that meeting, visit the board's website. http://www.austinisd.org/inside/board/meetings.phtml - see citizen's communication policy.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Support Plan 3
Last night, the Board of Trustees had public comment at their regular meeting and heard from 4 Boone parents who spoke against Plan 3. The board heard from no one who was in favor of Plan 3.
If you support Plan 3, you can do 3 things:
1) Write a letter to the Board of Trustees supporting Plan 3 at trustees@austinisd.org. Use your talking points from the Jan 5 public comments meeting using the boundary task force's four criteria: tracking, balance capacity, long term stability, affect fewest students possible.
- Plan 3 is similar to Plan 0 than staff proposed.
- Meets tracking for all but one school, where we were told parents supported moving out of tracking.
- Look at underutilized schools separately, as part of the Board-approved strategic plan.
- Underutilization is a systemic problem in South Austin, should be looked at as separately.
- For Mills and Kiker to be stable for long term, needs to be between 105%-110% capacity, since it's an established neighborhood.
2) Attend the Work Session of the Board of Trustees Feb 8 at 6:30-10pm. Take Signs, Wear T-shirts. You can not speak at this meeting. This is the night the FUBTF will present Plan 3 to the board.
3) Sign up to speak during the Board of Trusteees meeting Feb 22 at 7pm. You must sign up in the morning at the headquarter's downtown. Public Comment is limited to the first 30 speakers. More details on sign up at http://www.austinisd.org/inside/board/meetings.phtml
Plan 3 is not final until the Board votes on Feb. 22.
More information on the last FUBTF meeting, including the recommendation to the board can be found at: http://www.austinisd.org/inside/2004bond/boundaries/swes.phtml Look under Jan. 21 heading.
If you support Plan 3, you can do 3 things:
1) Write a letter to the Board of Trustees supporting Plan 3 at trustees@austinisd.org. Use your talking points from the Jan 5 public comments meeting using the boundary task force's four criteria: tracking, balance capacity, long term stability, affect fewest students possible.
- Plan 3 is similar to Plan 0 than staff proposed.
- Meets tracking for all but one school, where we were told parents supported moving out of tracking.
- Look at underutilized schools separately, as part of the Board-approved strategic plan.
- Underutilization is a systemic problem in South Austin, should be looked at as separately.
- For Mills and Kiker to be stable for long term, needs to be between 105%-110% capacity, since it's an established neighborhood.
2) Attend the Work Session of the Board of Trustees Feb 8 at 6:30-10pm. Take Signs, Wear T-shirts. You can not speak at this meeting. This is the night the FUBTF will present Plan 3 to the board.
3) Sign up to speak during the Board of Trusteees meeting Feb 22 at 7pm. You must sign up in the morning at the headquarter's downtown. Public Comment is limited to the first 30 speakers. More details on sign up at http://www.austinisd.org/inside/board/meetings.phtml
Plan 3 is not final until the Board votes on Feb. 22.
More information on the last FUBTF meeting, including the recommendation to the board can be found at: http://www.austinisd.org/inside/2004bond/boundaries/swes.phtml Look under Jan. 21 heading.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Plan 3 Moves Ahead
Plan 3 was approved by the majority of the FUBTF members last night. The plan now moves to the Board of Trustees. Selected FUBTF members will present the plan to the AISD Board of Trustees on February 8 and the board will vote whether to accept the plan on February 22. To view Plan 3, visit the AISD FUBTF homepage.
You have two opportunities to speak to the board regarding this plan: January 25 and February 22. The Board of Trustees allows public comment ONLY at their regular board meetings (the dates above).
The board allows members of the public to speak for 2 minutes at either of these meetings. To do so, you must go to the Superintendent's office on the morning of the meeting at 7:45am. Speakers are limited to the first 30 people who sign up - first come, first served. Lisa and I believe it would be helpful to have positive comments about the plan at one or both of these meetings. Comments should address the task force criteria and should be delivered similar to the public comment meeting on January 5.
More information from last night:
Last night, the task force voted to grandfather incoming 5th graders at the schools that were affected by the boundary changes. We learned that there are 31 students in VP and CCN who are incoming 5th graders next year and impacted by the grandfathering plan. The district estimates that only 1/2 of those will choose to stay at Mills and only half of those will have one sibling. (I'm not sure this is correct, but that's their formula.) They estimate about 24 students will be grandfathered into Mills next year. In addition, AISD staff estimates that we will have 63 incoming transfers, based on an average of transfers from the last four years.
So, that brings us to the estimated number of students at Mills next year.
Original Estimated Population for 2010: 1075 (without transfers)
Subtract Students moving to Kiker: 181
Projected New Population for Mills 2010: 894
Add Estimatd Transfers: 63
Add Estimated Grandfathered students: 24 (which could be more)
Total Expected Population: 981 or 117% of Mills functional capacity.
So when it's all said and done Mills reduces by about 120 students from current levels.
At this morning's principal's coffee, Mrs. Butler said she would be getting very strict on transfers given the current situation.
Kiker looks like this:
Original Estimated Population for 2010: 682
Add Students moving from Mills: 181
Projected New Population for 2010: 863
Plus their estimated transfers: 52
Minus grandfathered Mills students: 24
Estimated Kiker Population: 891 or 104% of functional capacity
You have two opportunities to speak to the board regarding this plan: January 25 and February 22. The Board of Trustees allows public comment ONLY at their regular board meetings (the dates above).
The board allows members of the public to speak for 2 minutes at either of these meetings. To do so, you must go to the Superintendent's office on the morning of the meeting at 7:45am. Speakers are limited to the first 30 people who sign up - first come, first served. Lisa and I believe it would be helpful to have positive comments about the plan at one or both of these meetings. Comments should address the task force criteria and should be delivered similar to the public comment meeting on January 5.
More information from last night:
Last night, the task force voted to grandfather incoming 5th graders at the schools that were affected by the boundary changes. We learned that there are 31 students in VP and CCN who are incoming 5th graders next year and impacted by the grandfathering plan. The district estimates that only 1/2 of those will choose to stay at Mills and only half of those will have one sibling. (I'm not sure this is correct, but that's their formula.) They estimate about 24 students will be grandfathered into Mills next year. In addition, AISD staff estimates that we will have 63 incoming transfers, based on an average of transfers from the last four years.
So, that brings us to the estimated number of students at Mills next year.
Original Estimated Population for 2010: 1075 (without transfers)
Subtract Students moving to Kiker: 181
Projected New Population for Mills 2010: 894
Add Estimatd Transfers: 63
Add Estimated Grandfathered students: 24 (which could be more)
Total Expected Population: 981 or 117% of Mills functional capacity.
So when it's all said and done Mills reduces by about 120 students from current levels.
At this morning's principal's coffee, Mrs. Butler said she would be getting very strict on transfers given the current situation.
Kiker looks like this:
Original Estimated Population for 2010: 682
Add Students moving from Mills: 181
Projected New Population for 2010: 863
Plus their estimated transfers: 52
Minus grandfathered Mills students: 24
Estimated Kiker Population: 891 or 104% of functional capacity
Monday, January 18, 2010
Circle C North
I've been hearing the same misconception repeated from some of my Circle C North neighbors about moving to Kiker. And it is simply this: "Why are you moving us from one overcrowded school to another?"
Let me explain how this is not the case.
What is overcrowded?
AISD staff considers a school to be overcrowded when the ratio of membership (actual students in the school, including transfers) to permanent capacity (the number of students the school was built for) exceeds 115%. Mills is currently at 1078 students, or 129% of permanent capacity. Mills has been "overcrowded" or above 115% capacity since the 2007-2008 school year.
What is ideal?
Getting the right level of capacity depends a lot on what kind of neighborhood you're talking about. For the new SWES, the ideal level of capacity is much different than an existing neighborhood like Kiker, because construction is still ongoing in the neighborhood around the new school, so the demographer expects it to quickly expand its student numbers.
Kiker is what they consider an established neighborhood, where all the houses have been built, and growth has slowed, if not reversed. For these established neighborhoods (like Kiker and Mills) AISD staff says capacity should be between 105-110%.
Without any new students, Kiker is projected to have only around 682 students, or 84% of it's permanent capacity. So, clearly it could benefit from additional students, especially since the demographer projects that the neighborhood will not grow in the number of elementary school students over the next five years.
Moving Vintage Place and Circle C North to Kiker, brings Kiker up to 863 students or 106% of their capacity of 816 students. Comparitively, under the current plan, Mills stays at 897 students or 107% of its capacity of 836 students. So, the schools are about the same size in terms of capacity and will have similar number of students. So, we're balancing the schools, not overcrowding one in favor of the other.
Students who will be moving to Kiker, including my own, will be transitioning from a school with 1100 students to a school with less than 900. If you've been at Mills a while, we haven't seen those numbers since before 2004.
What will next year really be like?
One other thing to think about. Although this has not been decided yet, it's likely that the boundary task force will approve transfers for incoming 5th graders and their siblings (what's known as grandfathering). The district typically allows the students entering the final grade level of the school to have the option of staying for their final year. I would project (we haven't been given exact figures on this) a grandfathering plan to impact the number of students moving from Mills to Kiker next year, perhaps as much as 10% of the 181 students, which will lower the capacity at Kiker for next year.
I want to thank the Kiker boundary representatives for their willingness to work with us during this process. In addition, if this plan is approved by the task force and moves on to the Board of Trustees, Lisa and I will work with the Kiker representatives to set up a transition meeting with the Kiker administration for incoming parents. The good news is that they know how to perform this kind of transition - they absorbed most of Clayton's kindergarten class this year, with few problems.
Let me explain how this is not the case.
What is overcrowded?
AISD staff considers a school to be overcrowded when the ratio of membership (actual students in the school, including transfers) to permanent capacity (the number of students the school was built for) exceeds 115%. Mills is currently at 1078 students, or 129% of permanent capacity. Mills has been "overcrowded" or above 115% capacity since the 2007-2008 school year.
What is ideal?
Getting the right level of capacity depends a lot on what kind of neighborhood you're talking about. For the new SWES, the ideal level of capacity is much different than an existing neighborhood like Kiker, because construction is still ongoing in the neighborhood around the new school, so the demographer expects it to quickly expand its student numbers.
Kiker is what they consider an established neighborhood, where all the houses have been built, and growth has slowed, if not reversed. For these established neighborhoods (like Kiker and Mills) AISD staff says capacity should be between 105-110%.
Without any new students, Kiker is projected to have only around 682 students, or 84% of it's permanent capacity. So, clearly it could benefit from additional students, especially since the demographer projects that the neighborhood will not grow in the number of elementary school students over the next five years.
Moving Vintage Place and Circle C North to Kiker, brings Kiker up to 863 students or 106% of their capacity of 816 students. Comparitively, under the current plan, Mills stays at 897 students or 107% of its capacity of 836 students. So, the schools are about the same size in terms of capacity and will have similar number of students. So, we're balancing the schools, not overcrowding one in favor of the other.
Students who will be moving to Kiker, including my own, will be transitioning from a school with 1100 students to a school with less than 900. If you've been at Mills a while, we haven't seen those numbers since before 2004.
What will next year really be like?
One other thing to think about. Although this has not been decided yet, it's likely that the boundary task force will approve transfers for incoming 5th graders and their siblings (what's known as grandfathering). The district typically allows the students entering the final grade level of the school to have the option of staying for their final year. I would project (we haven't been given exact figures on this) a grandfathering plan to impact the number of students moving from Mills to Kiker next year, perhaps as much as 10% of the 181 students, which will lower the capacity at Kiker for next year.
I want to thank the Kiker boundary representatives for their willingness to work with us during this process. In addition, if this plan is approved by the task force and moves on to the Board of Trustees, Lisa and I will work with the Kiker representatives to set up a transition meeting with the Kiker administration for incoming parents. The good news is that they know how to perform this kind of transition - they absorbed most of Clayton's kindergarten class this year, with few problems.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
FUBTF Meeting, January 12
The FUBTF met January 12, with 21 members in attendance. Another member joined the meeting late.
The task force did not decide on a final plan to recommend to the Board of Trustees. Options affecting the boundaries of any school can be still be proposed. Another meeting will be held Thursday, January 21 at 5:45 pm.
As it stands now, here are the changes that were approved by the task force, when compared to Plan 2. To see Plan 2, visit the FUBTF home page.
- No changes to Clayton's boundaries.
- No changes to Kiker's boundaries.
- No changes to Cowan's boundaries.
- 149I,O,J,M,N1&N2 were added to the SWES.
- 349H, F,C1,C2,D returned to Oak Hill.
- 249A,E,D,C were added to Patton.
- 83C1 was added to Patton.
- 96H3,A2 were added to Mills.
- 173A, 273 were added to Sunset Valley.
Here are the new capacity numbers from Beth Wilson regarding these changes. She's calling it Plan 3, although it's not been formally approved by vote. The split for students from elementary to middle school also becomes more balanced for Mills.
Existing Boundaries: 1,075 students
37% of Mills (395 students) assigned to Small MS and Bowie HS
63% of Mills (680 students) assigned to Gorzycki MS and Bowie HS
Proposed Plan 3: 894 students
44% of Mills (395 students) assigned to Small MS and Bowie HS
56% of Mills (499 students) assigned to Gorzycki MS and Bowie HS
Again, I encourage you to be respectful to all schools and all persons on this blog. Those who do not, will have their posts removed. Thanks.
The task force did not decide on a final plan to recommend to the Board of Trustees. Options affecting the boundaries of any school can be still be proposed. Another meeting will be held Thursday, January 21 at 5:45 pm.
As it stands now, here are the changes that were approved by the task force, when compared to Plan 2. To see Plan 2, visit the FUBTF home page.
- No changes to Clayton's boundaries.
- No changes to Kiker's boundaries.
- No changes to Cowan's boundaries.
- 149I,O,J,M,N1&N2 were added to the SWES.
- 349H, F,C1,C2,D returned to Oak Hill.
- 249A,E,D,C were added to Patton.
- 83C1 was added to Patton.
- 96H3,A2 were added to Mills.
- 173A, 273 were added to Sunset Valley.
Here are the new capacity numbers from Beth Wilson regarding these changes. She's calling it Plan 3, although it's not been formally approved by vote. The split for students from elementary to middle school also becomes more balanced for Mills.
Existing Boundaries: 1,075 students
37% of Mills (395 students) assigned to Small MS and Bowie HS
63% of Mills (680 students) assigned to Gorzycki MS and Bowie HS
Proposed Plan 3: 894 students
44% of Mills (395 students) assigned to Small MS and Bowie HS
56% of Mills (499 students) assigned to Gorzycki MS and Bowie HS
Again, I encourage you to be respectful to all schools and all persons on this blog. Those who do not, will have their posts removed. Thanks.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
*2010-2011 School Transfer Requests Accepted Beginning February 6*
The Austin School District will accept requests for school transfers for the 2010-2011 school year from 7 a.m. until noon on Saturday, February 6, in the Auditorium (Room B100) of the Carruth Administration Center, located at 1111 West Sixth Street. Staff from the Office of Student Services will be available to accept requests and answer questions.
Beginning on Monday, February 6, 2010, requests may be submitted to the Office of Student Services (Room A200), Carruth Administration Center, during regular business hours, 7:45 a.m. until 4:45 p.m.
*NOTE: SOME SCHOOLS ARE FROZEN TO TRANSFER REQUESTS*
http://austinisd.org/newsmedia/releases/index.phtml?more=1942
Beginning on Monday, February 6, 2010, requests may be submitted to the Office of Student Services (Room A200), Carruth Administration Center, during regular business hours, 7:45 a.m. until 4:45 p.m.
*NOTE: SOME SCHOOLS ARE FROZEN TO TRANSFER REQUESTS*
http://austinisd.org/newsmedia/releases/index.phtml?more=1942
Jan 5 Comment Card Analysis
I read through all the comment cards (118 pages worth) that were sent to the FUBTF and made a grid of the results. There are some comments that were made to the task force verbally that are not included in the comment cards. I guess the speakers did not submit their comments.
I indicated the map section if indicated by the speaker, and in the notes section summed up any global concerns expressed by the speakers.
I indicated the map section if indicated by the speaker, and in the notes section summed up any global concerns expressed by the speakers.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Back to School, Back to Boundaries
AISD will hold a community meeting to gather input about the current map, called Plan 2, for elementary school boundaries. At this meeting you can submit comments about the merits and drawbacks of the current map.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 6:00 p.m.
Clayton Elementary School Cafeteria
7525 La Crosse Ave., 841-9200
• Sign up to speak when you arrive at the meeting.
• Comments must be no longer than 2 minutes.
• In the past, AISD has not limited the number of speakers.
• Submit a written version of your comments to AISD representative at the end of your remarks.
• Consider practicing your comments to make sure they fall within the 2 minute limit.
If you missed the meeting at Mills, but would like a copy of what was discussed, please contact Lisa Chatham or Michelle Reinhardt at millsrep@gmail.com.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010, 6:00 p.m.
Clayton Elementary School Cafeteria
7525 La Crosse Ave., 841-9200
• Sign up to speak when you arrive at the meeting.
• Comments must be no longer than 2 minutes.
• In the past, AISD has not limited the number of speakers.
• Submit a written version of your comments to AISD representative at the end of your remarks.
• Consider practicing your comments to make sure they fall within the 2 minute limit.
If you missed the meeting at Mills, but would like a copy of what was discussed, please contact Lisa Chatham or Michelle Reinhardt at millsrep@gmail.com.
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