West Sylvan Enrollment and Capacity November 5, 2014 Hector

Meeting objectives Work collaboratively to: Respond to previous questions Share historical and current enrollment and options for change Hear from community members: Priorities and challenges New ideas Burning questions Agree on next steps Judy

We ask that you Give others an opportunity to learn what you may already know Keep the focus on kids and learning Accept that we will not resolve these issues tonight Judy

Responses to critical questions Most answers distributed in a document Three critical questions regarding current condition of East Sylvan: Pest status Air quality status Site appraisal Sara DRAFT

West Sylvan enrollment history Sylvan School (now East Sylvan) was built as a K-8 school in 1933. West Sylvan was built in 1954. The two campuses served as combined K-8 schools with K-2 at East and 3-8 at West. East Sylvan closed in 1982 K-2 moved to West Sylvan In 1983 West Sylvan converted to a middle school. The K-5 portion moved to Bridlemile and Chapman. Judy

West Sylvan enrollment history Middle school enrollment was less than 700 students through the 1980s. By 2000 enrollment had grown to more than 900 students. In 2003 East Sylvan reopened as a 6th grade center to relieve overcrowding at West Sylvan In 2004, a Westside Task Force recommended overcrowding at West Sylvan “should be addressed by restricting transfers and through the establishment of a split feeder pattern at Bridlemile” Judy

West Sylvan enrollment history The Bridemile guarantee began in 2004. Between 6-17 students transfer through this mechanism each year. In 2006, Skyline began conversion to a K-8 school. Middle grades students received a guarantee to transfer to West Sylvan Later that year, the Board directed staff to “monitor enrollment at East and West Sylvan to close the East Sylvan annex when it has been determined that the total enrollment of the school can be accommodated within the capacity of the West Sylvan building.” In 2011 the Skyline guarantee was revoked Judy

Recent enrollment trends Lower enrollment from some neighborhoods, substantial growth from Chapman area Transfers make up 25% of enrollment Proportion will diminish over time due to end to transfers into neighborhood program and changes to Spanish Immersion lottery rules Current enrollment (962) is 19 students lower than expected. Forecast is for about 30 fewer students over next several years. Judy

Current challenge Parents and teachers have expressed deeply dissatisfied with the East Sylvan facility condition, and have noted inefficiencies and lost instructional time due to maintaining a split campus. Enrollment at or above 950 students is expected for the foreseeable future. Without changes, the problem will continue. Judy DRAFT

Guidelines for facility/enrollment change 2012 Long-range Facilities Plan When enrollment exceeds or falls below optimal student capacity or program size, Portland Public Schools will engage in an enrollment balancing process including but not limited to transfer limitation, attendance boundary changes and grade reconfiguration before implementing school consolidation and facility changes. Judy

Guidelines for facility/enrollment change Board policy 4.10.045-P: The Board acknowledges and values neighborhood stability; however, it also recognizes the need to maintain flexibility to adjust neighborhood school boundaries in response to changes in the broader community The Superintendent or designee shall regularly monitor enrollment, program demand and demographic trends to anticipate the need for school boundary changes and consider other viable options Judy

Guidelines for facility/enrollment change District-wide Boundary Review Called for through Board resolution related to Jefferson Cluster Enrollment Balancing Will begin in Spring 2015 with a Values, Growth and Equity Community Survey In advance of this process, district will consider major enrollment, program or facility changes only at schools with fewer classrooms than projected need for 2015-16 Judy

Enrollment balancing options Transfer reductions Immediate, small impact, supports implementation of bigger changes Boundary changes Long-term change, impacts multiple schools, slow transition Facility changes Dependent on funds and school site constraints, minimal student movement, no impact at other schools Program moves Intensive impact on targeted populations, impacts multiple schools Grade reconfiguration Intensive and rapid impact to multiple schools School /program opening or closure Most intensive and rapid changes to multiple schools Judy

Long-term options for West Sylvan Transfer reductions Already in place Boundary changes Possible Facility changes Program moves Grade reconfiguration Unlikely School/program open/closure Judy

Other options Given that PPS is not making long-term enrollment balancing decisions this year What changes can be made that will either allow all of grades 6-8 to attend West Sylvan next year or improve conditions on both campuses for students in attendance? Judy DRAFT

Community suggestions Staff reviewed numerous creative suggestions Some are feasible for short-term change Some are feasible, but represent long-term change Some are not feasible Jon puts up matrix DRAFT

West Sylvan Family Survey Survey of West Sylvan families will be developed by West Sylvan PTA and PPS Survey will be conducted by West Sylvan PTA Survey will gauge the community’s preference for viable options Survey results will be one of the main criteria used to develop recommended changes to Superintendent and potentially PPS Board Jon

What’s next Family survey timeline Following survey results, PPS will finalize options review and make a recommendation Recommendation may require Superintendent and/or School Board approval Decision will be communicated through school and PTA by end of January—sooner if possible. Jon