Mills Elementary Boundary Info Presentation

Mills Elementary
Boundary Information Meeting
September 21, 2009

Goals of This Meeting
To inform parents of the effect of overcrowding at Mills.
To explain what is currently known about the upcoming boundary process.
To determine the priorities of the Mills community.
To inform parents about upcoming meetings, ways to communicate their opinions.

Mills by the numbers

Mills Population
This year, Mills has 1080 students. The largest Elementary in AISD.
School was built for 841 – this is known as “functional capacity.”
Right now, we are 239 students over functional capacity, or 128% of capacity.
AISD works to prevent schools from going beyond 115% of functional capacity.
115% of our functional capacity is 967.

Mills Elementary Growth2008 to 2009
PPCD not included for comparison purposes – actual enrollment as of September 14, 2009 was 1077 with 8 PPCD students

Growth from September 2008 was 41 students, which was lower because of pre-K classrooms that were moved to Kiker

Mills ElementaryProjected Versus Actual

Mills Elementary Population

Growth Pattern 2004-2008

Growth Pattern
Mills Student Population gained:
84 students in 2008-2009 (over the previous year).
78 students in 2007-2008
District predicts our growth was going to be flat during that time, yet our area continues to attract young, growing families.

The effects of
Over Crowding

Challenges of overcrowding
Children begin lunch at 10:30 and the last lunch finishes at 1:30.

PE in the Hallways
On rainy days, children have Physical Education where there is space. We no longer have a PE portable, it was converted for classrooms.

Or in the Cafeteria…
Because Mills has so many students, we have 3 PE teachers, one who is assigned to Mills every 3rd day. On those days, there are 3 PE classes held at Mills.

Creative Classrooms
Dyslexia teacher, Regina Staffa holds class for children at Mills in a space that also serves as a closet for the schools Audio-Visual equipment.

Traffic
Increasing student population means more traffic at drop off and pick up times.

Fewer Assemblies
The cafeteria can not accommodate all the students at one time.
The Spanish program for Parents of second graders.

Library resources
Students get 1 library visit every 2 weeks.
AISD gives all elementary schools 1 librarian, regardless of their student population.
Mrs. Higgs pays for a part-time assistant from money raised with school book fairs.

Library Resources
More than 3800 books are checked out by Mills students, parents and staff EACH MONTH.
These must be cataloged and re-shelved. This is in addition to the instruction the librarian provides.

No dedicated study space
Reading intervention program, Roaring Readers, provides coaching in the second grade pod.

Other signs of overcrowding
No private companies
will be offering after school classes on campus this year. No Abrakadoodle, Mad Science.
We don’t have the space.
Spanish teachers travel from class to class to conduct lessons.

More signs of overcrowding
Bike Racks overflowing
Under the Stairwells used as spaces to work with students.

Actions taken

Mills CAC Recommendations
Last year, the Campus Advisory Council formed a special committee.
This committee studied the overcrowding problem and came up with several recommendations.
Several solutions were addressed by AISD.

Actions Taken #1
Mills received one new portable for classroom space.
Mills PE portable was converted to classroom space.
Portables come close to encroaching on track.

Action Taken #2
25 Pre-K Students from Kiker and Clayton relocated to the Kiker campus.
Reduced Pre-K classrooms from 3 to 2.
Majority of Pre-K students who remain are zoned to Mills area.

Classroom Capacity
Through District actions, Mills had a net gain of 5 classrooms this year. Four from portable conversion/addition, one from Pre-K relocation.
All 5 are currently filled. There is NO existing classroom capacity on campus.
There is no future classroom capacity, because we have no more land for additional portables.
We have exhausted the current resources to accommodate any new population growth.

What if we do nothing?

Worst Case
Portables on the playground, track space.
Send a grade level of kids to another school. What Clayton is experiencing now.
In an emergency situation, Mills will lose a say in how our school is relieved from overcrowding.

AISD Boundary process

What we know today
School Board was presented with process on Monday, September 14.
A Boundary Committee made up of 10 core members, and 2 geographic representatives from each school.
Board will vote on process Tuesday, September 29.
(Tentative)On October 6, there will be a community presentation on boundary process held at Clayton Elementary.

AISD Priorities for process
Achieve capacity targets that ensure efficient operation of facilities.
Affect the fewest students possible.
Prevent multiple reassignments of students among schools by developing stable, long-term assignment plans.
Minimize distance for students to and from school.
Align feeder patterns (tracking).

Parent Survey

Why a survey?
To determine what values and priorities our school community share.
No one wants to leave, but can we use priorities to find a plan that aligns with our values? What will community accept?
These priorities will be used by boundary representatives to evaluate plans presented to the boundary task force.

Survey Questions Presented in Alphabetical Order
Location of school/Proximity to students
Overcrowding Relief
Parent Choice/Grandfathering
Quality of Education of Schools considered for rezoning
Tracking

Survey
Collect surveys tonight. Surveys will be available in front office until Friday, September 25. One per parent, please.
Principal’s coffee, September 25 at 8am, will repeat this presentation, pass out surveys there also.
Results of survey will be tallied and presented to CAC members October 1 at 3pm, during the regular meeting, which is open to the public.

Going forward

Key Meetings to attend
Clayton Elementary, October 6 at 6:30Community-wide meeting regarding boundary process. AISD to present info on process.
Boundary Task Force tentatively begins October 13 at 6pm with a work session. No public comments are expected. Maps may be revealed.
November – AISD will come to Mills and present proposed boundary maps for feedback. Will we need to collect more parent feedback at that time.
Board will vote on proposals in first few months of 2010. Meetings for public comment will take place prior to vote.

Ways to communicate
www.millspta.org
Become a registered user to receive email updates.
www.millselementary.blogspot.com
Blog with daily/weekly updates will be posted.
Comments should be helpful, constructive.

Ways to communicate
millsrep@gmail.com
Email address goes to Mills Boundary Reps
We will answer blog before we’ll answer individual emails, refer to blog first.
This email to express opinion, offer help or suggestions regarding strategy that aligns with survey priorities.
aisd@millspta.org
This email is distributed to school board members, superintendent, and director of facilities. We’ll need to use this strategically. (A copy goes to millsrep@gmail.com)

What parents can do now
Collaborate on solutions.
Assist boundary representatives with priorities.
Stay informed with the blog, millspta.org
Attend public meetings.

What parents can do later
Sign up to speak at community meetings, board meetings where public comment is allowed.
Sign petitions.
Communicate with the board of trustees, superintendent, district planners.
Attend CAC meetings, where district officials will share information.
Vote in upcoming school board elections.

Area Schools
(indicates approximate numbers without transferring Clayton kindergarteners to Kiker this year.)

Mills Elementary Boundary Info Presentation

by Mills Rep on Sep 22, 2009

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