Welcome to the Naperville CUSD 203 Demographic, Enrollment and Capacity Review and Planning Study
UPDATED on 2/17/2012 at 3:28 p.m.
Information about the map that will be presented to the Board of Education on Tuesday, February 21 at 7:00 pm at Naperville Central High School is posted to the DOCUMENTS page of the enrollment and capacity section.
For additional information about the Board of Education meeting agenda see the Meeting Dates, Agendas and Minutes page and BoardDocs section.
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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:
- Create the least amount of disruption for students
- Preserve neighborhood communities whenever possible
- 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.
Comments concerning Draft Map #6 may be sent to email address capacity@naperville203.org and/or to the ECS committee member school representatives found here Email Links for School Committee Representatives. Emails are compiled and forwarded to the committee members prior to their committee meetings for inclusion in the discussion.
Why a capacity study?
As part of the District’s responsibility to create the best opportunities for teaching and learning for our students and staff and to utilize our facilities in a manner that best facilitates this process in a fiscally accountable manner, Naperville 203 is undertaking a comprehensive review and long-range planning study of enrollment and capacity.
There have been major changes that have taken place since the last study of this type was completed. Economic and demographic shifts have already taken place in our community. In addition, the State is undergoing a significant direction change that includes the adoption of Common Core standards, the replacement of current standardized tests with PARCC assessments and PEAC/Senate Bill 7 which ties student achievement to administrative evaluations/reviews. In addition, the option of all-day kindergarten is being explored and reduced class sizes at the K-2 levels. These are programs that would need to be implemented at all schools.
To plan for the next 5-10 years and these focus changes, the District needs to know:
- Who are the students who will be attending our schools?
- How many will there be at each level?
- Where in our district will they be residing?
- What types of programs and services will our students require?
- How do we position our students to benefit the most from teaching and learning in our district?
Developing the plan
The district began this process by engaging RSP Associates to gather crucial data using forecasting techniques that integrate with new technologies. They were able to create a statistical analysis that is 98% accurate. Only by working with accurate information can the District effectively plan for the future. This phase of the work was completed in December.
The Expanded Enrollment Capacity Study Group is comprised of current and past parents, business and community leaders and school staff who will review the data and analyze the options available to the district before making this transition.
What you can expect
The reason the District is undertaking this review now is because we have the time needed for any transitions to take place according to a well-thought out plan which can be phased in over time.
As information is presented to the Board of Education, the content will be posted to this web page. This will include background information, demographic studies, maps and recommendations, if any, that are proposed as a result of this process.
What criteria will be used?
Following the December 19 meeting of the Board of Education, the Enrollment Capacity study group was instructed to continue their review of boundary issue within the district. They were asked to keep the following criteria as their focal point and filter their decisions through the following lens:
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.
Share your thoughts and questions
The District would like to hear your your input, comments and questions. Opportunities for input will be possible through this web page in the future, but the most direct way you can share your thoughts is through a direct email to capacity@naperville203.org.
To express your views about the Enrollment Capacity study regarding a particular school, see the Email Links for Capacity Study Input page for a list of specific schools' ECS email addresses.
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Building the Future
