Public Information Session, June 10, 6:30 p.m. Salem Elementary & Middle School Calendar Change TONIGHT’S AGENDA Welcome, Introduction and Meeting Goals/Process Presentation Small Group Brainstorming Adjourn at 7:30

Meeting Goals 1.Present information about Calendar Change options 2.Clarify most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to date 3.Create a list of Advantages & Disadvantages for each of the options 4.Create a list of questions that will be answered on a FAQ webpage NO DECISIONS WILL BE MADE TONIGHT ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS POSTED ON THE SALEM WEBSITES BY NEXT WEEK RECOMMENDATION PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION ON JUNE 16

INFORMATION ABOUT CALENDAR OPTIONS

Overcrowded and Under Utilized Issues ❑ Deficit of Traditional Calendar Seats ❑ Surplus of Year-round Calendar Seats ❑ Additional resources required for under utilized schools ❑ Calendar misalignment between school levels ❑ High use of temporary classrooms

Important Definition To gauge crowding, we compare the Planned Capacity with the actual student membership at the school. Planned Capacity is the total seats planned for the campus, including planned temporary classrooms and program adjustments.

Year-Round Elementary Schools in the West Planned Capacity Membership (4/28/2015) Utilization Adams % Alston Ridge 1,258 1, % Carpenter % Laurel Park % Morrisville % Oak Grove % Olive Chapel % Salem % Turner Creek % TOTAL 7,606 7, % Highcroft Dr (Track 4) %

Traditional Elementary Schools in the West Planned Capacity Membership (4/28/2015) Utilization Apex % Baucom % Briarcliff % Cary % Cedar Fork 7611, % Davis Dr % Farmington Woods % Green Hope % Kingswood % Mills Park 8971, % Northwoods % Penny Rd % Scotts Ridge % Weatherstone % TOTAL 9,34110, %

Year-Round Middle Schools in West Planned Capacity Membership (4/28/2015) Utilization East Cary 1,201 1, % Lufkin Rd 1,170 1, % Salem 1,253 1, % TOTAL 3,624 3, %

Traditional Middle Schools in West Planned Capacity Membership (4/28/2015) Utilization Apex 1,127 1, % Davis Dr 997 1, % Mills Park 1,552 1, % West Cary 1, % TOTAL 4,751 5, %

Over Crowded/Under Utilized Schools Year-Round Schools needing additional discussion - Western Area Focus Utilization ❑ Highcroft ES 139.3% ❑ Salem ES 76.9% ❑ Salem MS 90.4%

Salem Elementary School Possible change from Multitrack Year-Round to Traditional Calendar* Drivers Significant challenges delivering the instructional program on year- round calendar with lower enrollment Need for additional traditional calendar seats in the area Nearby year-round schools have capacity Restrainers Some families may see options change for , after a change for Loss of seats in a growing area *If NO students changed schools, converting Salem ES to traditional would increase utilization from about 77% to about 91%.

Salem Middle School Possible change from Multitrack Year-Round to Traditional Calendar* Drivers Significant challenges delivering the instructional program on year- round calendar with lower enrollment Need for additional traditional calendar seats in the area Nearby year-round schools have capacity Restrainers Some families may see options change for , after a change for Loss of seats in a growing area Calendar mismatch with a portion of the elementary feeder *If NO students changed schools, converting Salem MS to traditional utilization from about 90% to about 121%.

Frequently Asked Questions TO DATE…

FAQ: General Q: Does the year-round calendar lead to better academic achievement? A: According to our data and accountability staff, research indicates that, on average, year-round leads to equal or slightly better academic outcomes compared to traditional. Year-round calendars have been shown to have a more positive effect on economically disadvantaged students.

FAQ: Change to Traditional Q: What would be calendar options for those who prefer year-round? A: Turner Creek and Laurel Park at elementary level, East Cary and Lufkin Road for middle school.

FAQ: Change to Traditional Q: Will this create a calendar mismatch for Turner Creek and Laurel Park students who feed to Salem Middle? A: Yes. Those parents would have the option to apply to transfer to a year-round calendar middle school. If accepted, they would be eligible for bus transportation. We place a high priority on aligning calendars.

FAQ: Remain Year-Round Q: What are the options for those who would like a traditional calendar? A: Baucom and Scotts Ridge are the current elementary options. Apex or Davis Drive (based on address) are the current middle school options, though both are very overcrowded.

FAQ: Remain Year-Round Q: Could Salem go to single-track? A: Single-track creates issues with middle school alignment.

Additional Questions If there are questions we did not address, please write them down on the notecards provided. Include your address if you wish. Questions will be answered by and/or in FAQ to be sent out next week.

Advantages & Disadvantages SMALL GROUP BRAINSTORMING

Goal An unduplicated list of Advantages and Disadvantages to consider about each option Record as many ideas as you can!

Getting started: Divide into Groups of 8-12 PINK TABLES Identify the advantages and disadvantages of remaining on YEAR-ROUND calendar. YELLOW TABLES Identify the advantages and disadvantages of changing to TRADITIONAL calendar.

PROCESS: In Table Groups 1.THINK & WRITE SILENTLY (2 minutes) 2.SHARE IDEAS AT TABLES (15 minutes) and POST ON CHART PAPER “Round-Robin” style

1. Think and Write (2 minutes) 2 minutes to SILENTLY write ideas on the Post- It Notes provided. Write one idea per Post-It, preferably in a complete sentence. Write as many ideas as you have, advantages or disadvantages.

Timer 2:001:591:581:571:561:551:541:531:521:511:501:491:481:471:461:451:441:431:421:411:401:391:381:371:361:351:341:331:321:311:301:291:281:271:261:251:241:231:221:211:201:191:181:171:161:151:141:131:121:111:101:091:081:071:061:051:041:031:021:011:000:590:580:570:560:550:540:530:520:510:500:490:480:470:460:450:440:430:420:410:400:390:380:370:360:350:340:330:320:310:300:290:280:270:260:250:240:230:220:210:200:190:180:170:160:150:140:130:120:110:100:090:080:070:060:050:040:030:020:01End2:00

2. Share ideas (15 minutes) STEP 1: Number off each person at your table, starting with #1 Round-Robin Sharing: Person #1 begins by sharing ONE of their ideas. Please try to limit your sharing to 30 seconds or less. If other members of the group have written down the same idea, hand their Post-It note to the reader. Place Post-It notes on appropriate chart paper (advantage or disadvantage).

2. Share your ideas (cont.) Person #2 shares ONE of his/her ideas. Again, if others have written down the same idea, hand it to the sharer, then all those ideas will be placed on the chart paper. Continue Round-Robin sharing until there are no ideas left. Let a staff member know when your group is done. You can “Pass” at any time!

What Happens Next? Staff members will gather and synthesize all feedback from small group brainstorming. Additional FAQ answers will be posted on the Salem websites within a week and shared via other communication channels. Staff will make a recommendation for the Board to consider at the June 16 work session A final vote is expected at the July 21 Board meeting

For coming! For learning! For listening! For sharing!