BOE Information Session Evolving Plan to Address Student Enrollment Challenges as of November 9, 2011

General Recommendation to the Danbury Board of Education It is recommended that the district not implement a pocket-redistricting plan for numerous reasons, which are detailed on the following slides. Rather, the approach that is more conducive to the educational needs of children and their families, as well as being more fiscally responsible, is to create formal sister school relationships building on our current model, as needed, to address enrollment issues.

Reasons not to implement pocket redistricting: Any form of redistricting is extremely disruptive to the families and students affected by the process. The concept of creating parity between sending and receiving schools cannot be accomplished in our district due to the fact that almost all of our schools are nearing their maximum projected capacity levels for enrollment.

Reasons not to implement pocket redistricting: An analysis of the current enrollment patterns using the official October 1, 2011, enrollment numbers indicates that the only benefit of redistricting would be to foster a reduction in the teacher/student ratio in some classes at the targeted sending schools including Shelter Rock and Mill Ridge Primary.

Reasons not to implement pocket redistricting: The impact on the targeted receiving schools including Great Plain and Hayestown would be extremely negative with regard to the loss of special subject area classrooms and a reduction in the quality of instruction provided by the special subject area teachers due to the move to an “on the cart” model of instruction.

Reasons not to implement pocket redistricting: There are substantial new costs associated with the presented pocket redistricting options totally approximately $1,100,000 needed to cover staffing, transportation, material and supply expenses.

Sister School Plan Continuing pairing Shelter Rock with Great Plain and also pair MRP with Hayestown. When the kindergarten student enrollment exceeds what the home school can accommodate, move additional enrollees to the sister school.

Sister School Plan Students who move as kindergartners to the sister school will have the option to stay in that school until grade five or move back to their home school the following year if space permits.

MREC Option for Consider using the Mill Ridge Education Center (MRI) as a kindergarten annex for schools that are experiencing overcrowding. – 28 classrooms at MREC

MREC Option for All incoming kindergarten students from schools that are experiencing enrollment spikes that cannot be accommodated at the home school would be bused to the Mill Ridge Education Center Annex for their kindergarten year only.

MREC Option for All families would be considered members of the sending school and would be invited to participate in all aspects of the school such as the PTO, meetings with the principal, class pictures, etc.

MREC Option for All 8 current special education preschool classes at the Mill Ridge Education Center Annex would remain there, as well as two Head Start classes.

MREC Option for Relocate the two Family Resources Center preschool classes at Morris Street to the Mill Ridge Education Center Annex.

MREC Option for Relocate the developmental kindergarten classes (one each) at Mill Ridge Primary, Great Plain and Hayestown to the Mill Ridge Education Center Annex.

MREC Option for Pros: – Provides additional classroom space at selected elementary schools

MREC Option for Cons: – May dramatically increase the time some students are on the school bus – Creates another transition point in a child’s academic career

Tentative Future Plan Use for MREC In the event that the April referendum for a third middle school passes then the following two options are available for consideration:

Tentative Future Plan Use for MREC Consider using the Mill Ridge Education Center (MRI) as an Early Childhood Learning Center once Head Starts moves to its new location. – 28 classrooms at MREC

Tentative Future Plan Use for MREC Mill Ridge Education Center (MRI) as an Early Childhood Learning Center: – Move to universal half-day kindergarten at all schools with the exception of the magnet school since the state- approved operations plan calls for full-day kindergarten for all students at AIS – This would require approximately 20 classrooms based upon a model of one am and one pm class in each – This would provide at least two additional classrooms in each K-5 school

Tentative Future Plan Use for MREC Mill Ridge Education Center (MRI) as an Early Childhood Learning Center: – Leave the 8 pre-school special education classes at MREC

Tentative Future Plan Use for MREC Pros: – Provides additional classroom space at every elementary school – Provides a model that offers all incoming kindergarten students with the same induction to school – Would create a learning center that is specifically designed to address the developmental needs of young children

Tentative Future Plan Use for MREC Cons: – May dramatically increase the time students are on the school bus – Creates another transition point in a child’s academic career – Eliminates all full-day kindergarten programs with the exception of AIS

Tentative Future Plan Use for MREC Turn the Mill Ridge Education Center (MRI) into a regular K-5 school: – This option would require the redistricting of the entire city.

MREC Option for In the event that the April referendum for a third middle school fails to pass then the following option is available for consideration:

Tentative Future Plan Use for MREC Turn the Mill Ridge Education Center (MRI) into a third middle school academy model: – This option would require the relocation of the STEM academy at Rogers Park and the possible grade expansion of the magnet school program to grades 6-8 as an “intradistrict magnet” school serving 500 – 550 students.

Additional Considerations In the event that the referendum fails and the BOE decides to use MREC as a third middle school consideration needs to be given to: – Enlarging selected schools by adding modular units or brick and mortar additions. This will require further study.