Archived Capacity Study Updates

Posted on 3/6/2012
 

All-Day Kindergarten remains a district option

Posted on 2/25/2012

Board to consider All-Day Kindergarten option

The Naperville School District 203 Board of Education at its Monday February 21 meeting heard a report on All-Day Kindergarten. No decision was made on the issue and it will be further discussed at a future Board meeting.

The initiative to offer All-Day Kindergarten (ADK) for District 203 families emanates from new Common Core State Standards that are much more rigorous than the current state standards. "The new standards are one of the largest changes to come to education in decades and will have far-reaching implications for all children in the state and District 203," said Superintendent Mark Mitrovich.

Currently, District 203 offers a half-day program or 2.5 hours each school day. District 203 is one of 330 schools in the state that offers only a half-day option. Nearly 2,000 schools in Illinois offer all-day kindergarten. The District 203 proposal would offer full-day kindergarten with a half-day option for families who prefer it beginning with the 2013-14 school year.

“We all recognize that District 203 is a top-performing school district...we have to take on the responsibility to look forward to ensure the success of our students,” stated Kathy Duncan, Chief Academic Officer, before the Board of Education.

Principals, parents and teachers also addressed the Board, advocating a need for ADK. They noted that some European countries start formal education at age 4, that teachers have time to individualize instruction and know their students better, and that students in ADK do better academically, socially and emotionally.

What are the other reasons ADK is being considered?

ADK would offer the addition of more instructional time, but it also allows students to engage in whole group learning, small group learning and individual learning experiences. Other reasons cited are:

• Children would be less rushed with 600 more instructional hours
• There would be deeper mastery and cross-curriculum connections
• More time for teachers to know each student and the parents
• More time for student-initiated learning
• More time for independent learning
• Increased time for social and emotional development
• Individualized attention
• Small group instruction
• More child-to-child interactions

If approved by the Board, All-Day Kindergarten would be implemented with the greatest care to provide developmentally appropriate activities and strategies best suited for 5 and 6-year-olds, Duncan said.

Why is the Board looking at this issue now?

The issue was studied in 2000 and recommended by the District 203 study committee at that time, but with all schools at high capacity levels, space limitations and construction needs placed the goal outside of the District’s reach. Since that time, schools that are considered benchmark programs comparable to District 203 have moved ahead with ADK. District 203 has the opportunity now to implement what they thought was an important academic step over a decade ago, said Duncan. The costs of the program would be approximately $2 million annually, and would be offset by some state aid income and a look at any possible future reallocation in other program areas.

What are the construction requirements for ADK?

To implement ADK, the District would need to make adjustments in enrollment capacity at some of the elementary schools. Adjustments can be made through construction, reassignment of students or a combination of both. The current impact of ADK is this:

• Four schools meet all design standards required
• Four schools can meet standards if reduced by one section
• Six schools require remodeling/additional classrooms OR multipurpose rooms

The cost of classroom construction at Naper and Ellsworth (one each) and Ranch View (two rooms) and some remodeling would be $3.2 million. The District is also proposing a Phase II plan that calls for implementing the recommendations of a 2007 study. This includes building multipurpose rooms at Steeple Run, Elmwood and Prairie. This is estimated at $3.7 million. The projects could be phased in over three years with construction costs being taken from the Fund Balance.

A complete report on construction needs for the District was developed as part of the Building the Future plan from 2007. The report is still available on the district web site: Master Facilities Plan 2007

For more on ADK, review the PowerPoint Presentation to the Board of Education on ADK given on February 21.

Posted on 2/21/2012

Board hears from Enrollment Capacity Study committee and residents

The District 203 Board of Education heard a report from the Enrollment Capacity Study committee. This included a proposed map that outlines the reassignment areas. A copy of this map can be found at: Proposed Boundary Map for Board of Education.

At the meeting, the Board also heard concerns from a number of residents about the proposed map. The Board said that balancing enrollment is an ongoing concern and that it will address the issue again at its next meeting, Monday, March 5 at the Naperville North High School Auditorium.

The Enrollment Capacity Study would provide a better balance of student enrollment at each of the District’s schools and provide space for All-Day Kindergarten. Currently, there are 1,000 empty seats at the elementary level.  By better balancing each school’s enrollment, overall construction needs and costs would be greatly reduced.

The changes would also reduce enrollment at two schools that are at capacity – Beebe and Mill – and allow the schools to sustain these levels of enrollment for the next five years.

(also a Talk203)

Posted 2/17/2012

On Tuesday, February 21 at 7 PM at Naperville Central High School the Board of Education will be meeting to discuss important issues concerning future educational goals in our district. Topics scheduled for discussion include ALL DAY KINDERGARTEN and an update on the ENROLLMENT CAPACITY STUDY. On Wednesday evening, the Enrollment Capacity Study Committee voted to bring Map #6 to the Board for recommendation. All families are encouraged to attend to hear what these recommendations include and the Board discussion that will take place. See the Meeting Dates, Agendas and Minutes page and BoardDocs for additional information.


Posted 2/3/2012

Four of the five Capacity Study Public Forums for community input on a draft map of potential boundary changes were held this week. The first 20 minutes of the program includes an explanation of the capacity study history and process and a description of the neighborhood reassignments as they appear on the draft map. Video of the opening presentation and Dr. Mitrovich discussing the need for all day kindergarten is now available for viewing on the district web site. A link to the videos can be found on the Demographic and Capacity main page.

The last scheduled public forum for the discussion of draft map #6 will be held on Wednesday, February 8 at Madison Junior High School. The ECS committee will reconvene to review questions submitted at the public forums and via email. To submit your comments for consideration, go to: Email Links for Capacity Study Input

Posted 1/26/2012

On Wednesday, January 25  at the Enrollment Capacity Study committee meeting, a Draft Map #6 was introduced for review and feedback. The committee determined by consensus vote that this map should be presented to the community at-large at the public forums for additional input. While the ECS committee feels there are still options that can be explored before a final recommendation is considered, Draft MAP #6 represents a boundary reassignment plan that most closely meets the directive put before them by the Board of Education. That directive was:

The proposal developed must meet the District’s need to balance enrollments based on current and projected needs and provide for optimal utilization of facilities for the long-term.

Three criteria should be kept under consideration and drive the decisions:

1. Create the least amount of disruption for students
2. Preserve neighborhood communities whenever possible
   
3. Maintain “walking” status for students and optimize transportation for those students who require bussing

PUBLIC FORUMS

Public forums for review of the capacity and boundary revision plan were held in each of the five junior high schools.  The attendance at each of these meetings ranged from 225-250 parents and community members. ECS committee members and Board members attended these forums to hear feedback from the community. Video of the presentation portion of the meetings can be found on the Capacity Study Video page.

INFORMATION ABOUT DRAFT MAP #6

Draft Map #6 and the supporting documentation are being complied for web posting. A TALK203 announcing that the information has been posted will be sent out no later than Friday, January 27 at 3 pm.

Posted 1/20/2011 at 2:32 pm

The expanded Enrollment Capacity Study committee will meet again on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 to continue their work on the attendance reassignment needs of the district. The committee will review many of the email submissions prior to meeting and had prepared questions for further discussion.
 
In addition to draft map configurations 1, 2 and 3, two additional draft maps were introduced during the January 18 session. These maps were developed based on the questions raised by the committee. At the conclusion of the three-hour session, the committee felt that while progress had been made there were additional questions and options that needed to be explored before any recommendations could be made. The ECS committee will be meeting again next week.

_________________________________________

Revised 1/20/12 at 2:30 pm: Because of the stated need by the ECS committee to continue the review process, the posted tentative PUBLIC FORUMS dates will be revised according to the following schedule:

All Public forums are from 7:00 -9:00 pm
 
January 30: Lincoln Junior High School
January 31: Washington Junior High School
NEW DATE: February 1: Jefferson Junior High School
NEW DATE: February 2: Kennedy Junior High School
February 8: Madison Junior High School

Public forums for review of the capacity revision plan will be held in each of the junior high schools according to the schedule listed. Each public feedback night will include a presentation of map(s), with information, and allow for public input. All dates are tentative based on the progress of the committee in their review of the draft maps. Please note that while meetings are scheduled for each junior high, community members are welcome to attend any meeting. The same information will be presented at each session.

Posted 1/10/2011 at 2:32 pm

The next phase of the capacity review process will begin Wednesday, January 11, when the expanded Enrollment Capacity Study (ECS) committee meets for the first time since the Board of Education meeting on December 19, 2011. The District will be posting the outcomes of this discussion to the district web site and sending a TALK 203 message no later than 3:00 pm on Friday, January 13. Because the committee meeting is a working session, the delay in posting information is important to ensure the information correctly reflects the work of the committee.

Comments, questions and concerns raised during the discussion will be reviewed and summarized. Any suggested changes to the maps will require a review of the data for feasibility, which includes transportation routes, numbers of students impacted, program relocations that may result, etc. Finally, new maps will be produced. The entire package of documents will be posted simultaneously. If the report can be made available sooner, it will be.  Any information released prior to the district’s posting should not be assumed to be an official report of the committee’s findings.

The Demographic and Capacity Planning page will also have the official list of ECS committee members. An email address designated for each school along with the capacity@naperville203.org address will be on the site page. If you have feedback that is specific to your school, send the information via the designated email address for your school. Questions about the process or general comments about the reports ahould be sent to capacity@naperville203.org. Emails may be sent to multiple addresses, if applicable.
 
Dates are being secured for community forums where public input will also be gathered. These sessions are tentatively scheduled to take place the last two weeks of January/start of February and will be held at the junior high schools. Some flexibility of dates must remain because the holding of the sessions is contingent upon having a viable boundary map for review. All sessions are open to all community members and the same presentation of information will be made at each location. Parents may attend any session that fits their schedule.
 
Thank you for your continue support and involvement in this important process for our district. The decisions made today open the door to the future of our schools as we prepare to meet the ever growing needs of our students in the fulfillment of the district mission.

Posted 12/21/2011 at 12:32 pm

Student Attendance Changes

Superintendent Mitrovich was able to confirm during the Board meeting that once a student starts high school, the student will stay at that high school for the duration of his/her high school career.  The Board was supportive of this decision. Determinations about junior high student attendance and other grandfathering considerations cannot be made at this point in the process. District administration acknowledges the importance of having answers to these concerns and will share details once plans are finalized.
 
All-day Kindergarten

The discussion of all-day Kindergarten remains on the Board agenda; however, the superintendent noted that the program could not be put into place until 2013-2014. The curriculum is still being developed and staff will need to be hired and trained. Superintendent Mitrovich reiterated that enrollment imbalances are not the only factor influencing the need to review boundaries.  With the installation of Common Core Standards and an assessment process that measures student college readiness based on more stringent standard, educational demands placed on our students will be more rigorous.  These changes are mandates that must be followed by all schools in Illinois. Due to current capacity levels, there are six schools in the district that cannot accommodate the implementation of all-day Kindergarten. Imbalances must be addressed so that all schools can offer the programs needed to have our students excel. 
 
Expansion of the ECS committee

Additional members will be added to the ECS committee to complete the representation of all schools. The selection process will take place at the school level by the principal. The names of these individuals will be posted along with an email address where message can be sent directly to the school contact. Community members are encouraged to share information about neighborhood composition and concerns with their school representatives directly.

Top considerations as stated by the Board of Education on December 19:

1. The proposal should meet the District’s need to balance enrollments based on current and projected needs and provide for the best utilization of facilities for the long-term.
2. Impact on students should be kept to a minimum; keeping neighborhoods intact reduces impact.
3. If walkers remain walkers and the focus is placed on preserving neighborhoods, transportation optimizations should be an outcome.

(Also sent as a Talk203 message) 

Posted 12/9/2011 at 4:00 pm

The Enrollment Capacity Study Group (ECS) met on Wednesday, December 7, to review additional supposals for the District 203 capacity and boundary study. After reviewing the first map representing the elementary schools, the committee determined that several significant areas needed to be addressed before the map could be considered. They also reached a consensus decision that the map as presented would not be posted to the web site since it would not be put before the Board of Education.

Other updates include:

1. Minutes from the December 7 meeting of the ECS group are posted online at /about/DemoCapacityPlan.asp
2. The supposal maps from the first exercise, which ran a scenario involving two school closings, will be removed from the web site because they are not a viable option.
3. No maps other than the elementary map were reviewed and the committee voted to exclude posting this map; therefore, no new maps will be posted to the web site at this time.
4. The committee will be expanded to include a representative from each school. Meetings will resume following the holidays. Details will follow later.
5. Public information sessions will be scheduled throughout the district. Dates are being secured. These will take place late January or early February.
6. Notification of all publics, not limited to those with current school-age children, will take place as part of the review process.

Finally, because this process may extend into the time when high school students need to register for classes a determination was made that all current high school students will remain in their present school for the 2012-2013 academic year. The confirmation that currently enrolled high school student will not change schools next year does NOT imply or mean to imply that a 2013-2014 senior would not be grandfathered to his/her current school. For current 8th graders who also register in the spring, not specific decision can be reached at this time. But please note, late registration of one class is significantly easier than all four classes. (Updated at 6:47 pm)

Please remember, this is a process and all aspects of it cannot be finalized simultaneously. There are many questions concerning timelines and grandfathering. As specific information is available, families will be informed. The District would like to hear your input, comments and questions. The most direct way to share your thoughts is through an email to capacity@naperville203.org.

(Also sent as part of a Talk 203 message)

Updated 12/9/2011 at 8:00 am

The Enrollment Capacity Study Group (ECS) met on Wednesday, December 7, to review additional maps for the District 203 capacity and boundary study. After reviewing the first map representing the elementary schools, the committee determined that several significant areas needed to be addressed before they could be considered. ECS group also reached a consensus decision that the map as presented would not be posted to the web site since it would not be put before the Board of Education.

The maps from the first exercise, which ran a scenario involving two school closings, have been removed from the web site because they are not a viable option. To further display them could lead to additional confusion as to their purpose on the site.
Posted 12/7/2011 at 11:00 pm

Dear 203 families,

Tonight, the Enrollment Capacity Study Group (ECS) met to view and discuss the latest supposals.  After an extensive review of the elementary map, the committee felt that critical concerns were still present and could not be resolved under the current timetable.

It is with the full consent of the committee that the following recommendations be made to the Board of Education on Monday, December 19:

• Extend the timetable so a viable plan that meets the needs of our District can be developed
• Expand the process to include representatives from all schools
• Review the priorities that were identified early in the process to determine if they accurately represent the long-term goals of our District
• Address enrollment issues at Mill and Beebe schools prior to the 2012-2013 academic year

I would like to thank the ECS members for their commitment to this process. Their passion represents this community well.  The names of the current Enrollment Capacity Study Group committee have been posted to the web site.  I hope you take the time to thank them for the work they have done thus far and their continuing commitment.

Thank you,

Mark Mitrovich
Superintendent

(Also sent as a Talk 203 message)