2016-17 Attendance Areas PreK-12 Standing Committee Work

Purpose(s)/Goal:

• Analyze data regarding short-term and long-term housing development, capacity at our schools, and develop recommendations for short-term (2017-18 and 2018-19) attendance area adjustments and long-term adjustments (2019 and beyond).
• Use criteria from policy 3130 to develop and evaluate possible scenarios.
• Use input from families and staff to form recommendation(s) to the superintendent.
• Use recommendations from the next Facilities Planning Task Force to inform future long-term attendance adjustments.

Basis for Establishment:

• Bellingham Public Schools has been working with the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County to understand short- and long-term growth projections and how new housing developments will impact school capacity.
• New, large housing developments are being planned and some will be completed this school year within walking distance of Cordata Elementary School, which is near capacity.
• More housing developments are planned to open next year in the north that could impact Alderwood, Birchwood and Cordata elementary schools, Shuksan Middle School and Squalicum High School.
• Enrollment is currently about 245 students more at Squalicum High School, and SQHS is running out of room; Bellingham High School is currently under-enrolled. Balancing enrollment among our high schools creates better course choices/schedules for students.
• On average, 40 percent of students districtwide receive free/reduced meals, which is an important indicator of poverty levels. The number of students in each school who receive free/reduced meals currently ranges from 18 to 85 percent. More balanced free/reduced rates across our schools provide greater equity for students.
• Long term, Bellingham Public Schools is also reviewing existing space/capacity and projected future enrollment in our schools with the future bond improvements in mind.

Decision-Making Process:

• Advise and make recommendation(s) to the superintendent on revised attendance areas; the superintendent will make decisions based upon input from this committee and other feedback, as needed.
• Recommendations will be made based on research, discussion and input gathered during the process.
• The standing committee will continue to meet and develop longer-term recommendations as needed.

Plan of Work:

• Issue a call for applications on Nov. 30, 2016 and receive applications by 8 a.m. Dec. 12.
• Finalize committee members and notify by Dec. 15.
• Meet 3-5 p.m. weekly on Jan. 5, 12, 19, 26 and Feb. 2, 9 and 16 to develop recommended scenarios.
• Gather parent and staff feedback from affected school communities from Jan. 30-Feb. 15 and/or during the process.
• Submit short-term recommendations for 2017-18 and 2018-19 to the superintendent by Feb. 17, 2017.
• Continue to meet monthly, as needed, to work on longer-term recommendations for 2019 and beyond.

Members

     Regular:

• Micah Smith, Principal, Alderwood Elementary School
• Matt Whitten, Principal, Birchwood Elementary School
• Rachel Smith, Teacher, Birchwood Elementary School
• April Barker, Parent, Birchwood Elementary School
• Crystal Garcia, Parent, Columbia Elementary School
• Sharece Steinkamp, Assistant Principal, Cordata Elementary School
• Stephanie Horsfall, Teacher, Cordata Elementary School
• Emily O’Connor, Parent, Geneva Elementary School
• Andrea Quigley, Teacher, Lowell/Northern Heights Elementary Schools
• Mylo Allen, Principal, Parkview Elementary School
• Carrie Glimm, Parent, Roosevelt Elementary School
• Amy Terrell, Parent, Silver Beach Elementary School
• Lillian Harris, Office Assistant, Sunnyland Elementary School
• Eric Alexander, Parent, Wade King Elementary/Fairhaven Middle
• Meagan Dawson, Principal, Kulshan Middle School
• Tommy Lingbloom, Teacher, Kulshan Middle School
• Brad Swanson, Parent, Shuksan Middle School
• Dustin Heaton, Teacher, Shuksan Middle School
• Alice-Marie Carr, Parent, Whatcom Middle/Squalicum High
• Linda Miller, Principal, Bellingham High School
• Ben Goodwin, Teacher, Bellingham High School
• Umar Nadeem, Student, Bellingham High School
• Henry Brewster, Student, Sehome High School
• James Everett, Principal, Squalicum High School
• Paul Schissler, Community Member
• Shirley Potter, BEA President
• Rae Anne Thon, Director of Transportation
• Jessica Sankey, Director of Wellness
• Simone Sangster, Assistant Superintendent, Finance and Operations
• Bob Kuehl, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources
• Ron Cowan, Executive Director of Capital Projects and School Facilities
• Isabel Meaker, Special Assistant to the Superintendent, Family Engagement
• Tanya Rowe, Executive Director, Communications and Community Relations
• Chris Behee, City of Bellingham
• Co-Chairs Assistant Superintendent Steve Clarke and Executive Director Rob McElroy

Responsibilities:

• Serve a two-year term on this standing committee.
• Commit to meetings and be an active participant according to group norms.

Meeting Minutes:

• Jan. 5, 2017 – Minutes
• Jan. 12, 2017 – Minutes
• Jan. 19, 2017 – Minutes
• Jan. 26, 2017 – Minutes
• Feb. 2, 2017 – Minutes
• Feb. 15, 2017 Community Input Session/Birchwood Elementary – Minutes
• Feb. 16, 2017 – Minutes
• March 2, 2017 – Minutes
• March 16, 2017 – Minutes

Budget Implications:

• None, unless recommendations suggest otherwise.