1. West Sylvan Enrollment and Capacity
November 5, 2014
Hector

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. West Sylvan enrollment history
Sylvan School (now East Sylvan) was built as a K-8 school in 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

6. 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

7. 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In 2011 the Skyline guarantee was revoked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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Guidelines for facility/enrollment change
Board policy 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

12. 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
Judy

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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