Redistricting: Ann Arbor schools seeks consultant, software to aid process
The Ann Arbor Public Schools system is seeking a consulting firm to help with its redistricting process.
AAPS elementary attendance boundaries.
The second posting went up last week and the bid period will close May 30.
During the past six months, the district has started to prepare for redrawing attendance boundaries and rerouting its transportation routes at the initiative of Superintendent Patricia Green. Reports on enrollment trends, capacity trends and facility replacement costs have been given to the Board of Education.
Liz Margolis
"You look at a variety of factors (when you do redistricting), including where current and anticipated populations are in the district, birth rates, new housing developments, etc.," Margolis said. "A history of school attendance data and school locations is also part of the assessment."
She said officials would use the district's student data from PowerSchool and "geocode" students based on their school and residence. A geocode is a geographic coordinate — latitude and longitude — school officials said. Scenarios for placing students and redrawing attendance boundaries can be created through the geocodes, Margolis added.
She said the district wants and needs to hire a firm able to provide this software as well as advice and consultation on the actual redistricting.
"It is important to have a third party look over redistricting data to give it that 'third eye' as we prepare scenarios," Margolis said.
AAPS Executive Director of Physical Properties Randy Trent said the overall cost of redistricting services will depend on whether the district purchases the software or simply uses it. He said the consultation, software use, data setup and a written report are estimated at $20,000 to be paid out of the district's general fund.
If AAPS purchases the software for its use during the next three years, it is estimated to cost an additional $30,000, which could come out of the $45.8 million technology bond fund, Trent said. District residents passed the technology millage in May of 2012.
In December, Green told the board during a discussion on transportation sustainability in the Ann Arbor Public Schools that rerouting and redistricting could not be ignored. Significant cuts to transportation have been on the table for the past several years, as officials consistently have reduced educational programs, services and staff in order to slash budget deficits exceeding $10 million.
Green recommended at the December meeting, hiring a third-party organization to conduct demographic and feasibility studies prior to redistricting. In March, she said school closures were not realistic for next year and it could take up to 18 months to properly assess and prepare for considering such closures.
But closing a few low enrollment elementary schools and creating grade-level targeted schools for K-2 and 3-4 was among the recommendations the Ann Arbor Administrators Association made to district officials in March to help meet the $8.67 million budget shortfall.
Principal sharing among at least six elementary schools is on the latest short list of possible cuts the board is weighing — although as presented, it would not involve closing facilities.
Trustee Susan Baskett and Vice President Christine Stead were against principal sharing for next year, they said at the May 15 board meeting, understanding that in another year, the district will have to look at redistricting and closing schools on a broader scale. Baskett described it as "a lot of drama" for parents and students to lose their principal part-time this coming year and then to lose their building.
Baskett also said if Trustee Glenn Nelson's principal sharing proposal was different from the building combinations that needed to occur for redistricting it would be twice the drama. So she preferred waiting for the redistricting study to be done, she said. Nelson proposed on Wednesday grouping the six smallest elementaries together to share a principal: Abbot and Northside, Angell and Pattengill and Mitchell and Pittsfield.
The Board of Education will conduct a first reading and public hearing on the 2013-14 budget at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 22 at the downtown Ann Arbor Public Library. A second reading, another public hearing and a potential vote will be June 12.
The board must pass a balanced budget by June 30.
Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
15crown00
Tue, May 28, 2013 : 12:16 a.m.
u better b ready because no matter what u do reaction will b bad.
BhavanaJagat
Thu, May 23, 2013 : 5 a.m.
I had provided services to this School District in the past and have known Mr. Randy Trent, Executive Director of Physical Properties. However, it would not be correct to speak to him directly about his proposal as reported in this story. I would appreciate if he could give a response to my comment. I have known all the buildings/physical properties owned by our School District and know that the funding provided by the technology millage was used at all those buildings which may be affected by the proposed plan for redistricting. If funds are needed to investigate the issue of redistricting, the School District must find some source other than technology millage. I would specifically ask Mr. Randy Trent to clarify that the proposed usage could withstand a legal challenge.
DonBee
Thu, May 23, 2013 : 3:47 a.m.
Washtenaw County owns a GIS system. You can view it on their website. It is highly accurate. We used summer interns to plot 1.2 million locations one summer, the review of their work showed accuracy north of 99.5%. The two of them were done in less than a month. No need to hire big guns, because they will use interns and charge professional staff rates. Hire 2 College Surveying Students for the summer and be done with it. If you want some strategy, pick up an urban planning intern while you are at it. $10,000 tops to do that whole thing with minimal supervision.
Macks Pizza
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 8:54 p.m.
The BoE need to decide which schools to close before they determine redistricting. It makes little sense to redistrict and then close schools within specific boundaries. That requires a decision.......oh well.
Charles Curtis
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 8:15 p.m.
Redistricting needs to be done and yes it will impact lots of students. And lets hope the focus is on the students. I have very low expectations for the whole consultant business that AAPS uses, since past has been very disappointing. I wonder why we need all the administrators and the BOE that we have if every decision gets farmed out to a consultant? As I recall there were very mixed results with the whole skyline opening and related issues. AAPS did not listen to the information that said the new HS as configured now was not the best and most effective way to go. The best solution was to have a academic HS or series of magnet/specialty HS there and bus student back to Pioneer and Huron for athletics, but nobody listened to that. And we got an overpriced HS that the district cannot support. And I find it real funny that AAPS wants geo-related data now, when that very same data said skyline was not going to be needed in 5-8 yrs after Skyline opened. Hmmm seems it may have been correct. So what good is the consultant if the BOE and Admin continue to think they know better than everyone else? And there is another class or teacher they are going to have to cut to pay for the consultant...it never stops.
longtimer
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 7:12 p.m.
Some questions, Danielle--- Has the district ever done an analysis of the Bryant/Pattengill split? Have test scores at either or both schools gone up since 1989, which I believe this configuration began? How much money does the district spend on busing kids to and from each school? How many kids choose St. Francis or a charter because they don't have a K-5 neighborhood school? How is the Bryant neighborhood impacted by this split? And with regard to Angell---how many kids come from within a mile and a half of the building and how many are bused in from the Northside/North Campus geographic area? Spending money on non-essential busing should be examined throughout the district..... And yes, current attendance numbers should be made available by AAPS.
J. A. Pieper
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 11:51 p.m.
Bryant and Pattengill were paired in the fall of 1986. Some families do choose other options because they want their children in the same K-5 school. It is challenging to compare test score data because it was a K-6 school previously, and then became K-3 until the sixth graders were moved up to the middle school.Both schools are continuing to make progress on test scores! The impact on the Bryant neighborhood is that when their children get to the third grade level, they have to be bussed to school. It does make it harder for some parents to be involved, because they live further away from their child's school.
Haran Rashes
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 6:19 p.m.
For purposes of this discussion, here is the most recent compilation I could easily find of Ann Arbor School Capacities, compiled in February by AnnArbor.Com (not the AAPS): http://www.annarbor.com/news/opinion/ann-arbor-school-closing-potential/
PlateSpinner
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 7:17 p.m.
What I found most interesting about the graphic at the bottom of this referenced article was that the building capacities changed (in some cases, drastically) in the schools that are targeted in this current article. I am very curious as to how a building changes capacity from year to year....by repurposing classrooms? While I see Mitchell and Pittsfield (neighboring schools) simply moved the capacity for 25 students from one to the other, I am wondering how Northside can reduce their capacity by 100 students in one year?
Haran Rashes
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 6:10 p.m.
How come the AAPS website does not have current data for student enrollment. The most current data they have at http://www.a2schools.org/aaps/ins.child_accounting/current_demographic_data is for September 2010. Yet at the MDE, https://www.mischooldata.org/ I can get September 2012 data for each individual AAPS School. If the BOE wants to garner our trust during what is going to be a very painful process, AAPS better start to act in a more transparent and open manner.
Thoughtful
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 4:47 p.m.
I'm curious how the parents whose kids are bussed past several schools for diversitys sake feel about that? Has anyone ever asked the parents? I guess I would like the opportunity to be involved at my kids school, and if transportation were an issue, having to get to a far away school would make it more difficult. Anyone have a take on this?
J. A. Pieper
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 11:44 p.m.
Sometimes it depends on who is actually being bussed, and the perceived quality of the teachers at the school. Some parents are leery if the neighborhood isn't like their own, and some parents don't welcome bussed children into their school. My elementary school is very divers, and parents like that aspect of sharing neighborhoods quite a bit. Sadly though, discipline is becoming an issue in the schools, and this raises serious concerns with parents.
Wondering
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 3:44 p.m.
And frankly, if I were a superintendent candidate, I would avoid at all costs a district on the verge of a redistricting....unless I only wanted to cash in on the salary and retirement being offered and only wanted to be a super in the district until the redistricting was completed. So, seems like we may have some important long-range planning to do regarding priorities.
CLX
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 3:42 p.m.
Software is not enough -- you need to know the goals and philosophy of the district. Will those be shared with the public? For example, at the elementary school level, kids are bused to certain schools that are located far from their homes. I believe the kids in married student housing on north campus are bused to Angel, for example, even though there must be a closer school. And I understand that the Bryant/Pattengill split was the result of some conscious decision making to create a more diverse population. Will these type of decisions play into the mix? Or will the redistricting be strictly along the lines of school proximity and transportation routes? What is the goal of this redistricting? That's really the question.
Wondering
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 3:39 p.m.
It seems that engaging in redistricting for school districts is a lot like engaging in warfare for nation states....when you have lots of troubles on the home front, get everyone hot and bothered about a very emotional topic, to deflect attention from the pressing problems on the home front that are in dire need of attention. I agree with those above who have said that one of the pressing issues that ought to be receiving attention is understanding where students not in public school are attending school--especially elementary age students, and especially in this challenging economy. It is important data to know who are choosing to vote with their feet, and why. Closing neighborhood schools, and all the uncertainty and ill will generated around redistricting decisions (often continuing for many years), and the acrimonious debate over who has the power to save which schools, will of course not contribute to retention of families in the public system. It also seems like important data for the AnnArbor.com readership to know the current enrollment and capacities of all district buildings. Does the district have an updated Demographics Report similar to the very carefully prepared version that Rick O'Neill and Randy Trent generated a decade or more ago? Perhaps AnnArbor.com could share some of that current demographic and enrollment data with its readership. Decisions to spend money on software and outside consultants to make decisions that will greatly impact real families who will choose whether or not to be part of our public school community seems short-sighted. It allows us to shift the blame for the hard decisions to an outside consultant and its software. Instead, we should insist that those making such important decisions are local folks who can be held accountable for making sure the decisions they make are far-sighted, wise, and fair, and strengthen, instead of weaken, our public school community.
Nicholas Urfe
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 2:52 p.m.
I wish they were just as eager and quick to hire a consultant and get special software to sort out their budget mess.
BhavanaJagat
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 2:38 p.m.
Misuse and abuse of Technology Millage: This story is the evidence that the School District has openly communicated the fact of misuse and abuse of the funds authorized by citizens to provide technology support to our schools. While the citizens voted, it was not disclosed that the funds could be used for any other purpose like closing of any of the existing schools. If the School District has no use for these funds it must be returned to the payers and the District has no right to spend on consultants and software as they please.
Thoughtful
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 1:36 p.m.
How many kids are at Lakewood? I thought it was one of the "smaller" schools?
A2workinmom
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 6:09 p.m.
I think it is pretty close to capacity - pretty large class sizes (upper grades at 27+ per room), all classrooms being utilized as classrooms. Great teachers over there
Thoughtful
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 4:49 p.m.
I recall reading that Northside was at about 50% capacity. Not sure about the others.
Thoughtful
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 4:38 p.m.
Wow, I had no idea it had grown so much. Last I knew it was 200ish. Whoever downvoted, get a grip. It was just a question. Does Lakewood ave room for more kids, or is it at capacity?
A2workinmom
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 2:21 p.m.
350+ students at the beginning of this year - so smaller, but I think the others listed have fewer students. Also, Lakewood has lots of land. Then again, it was closed in the 90's and could be again.
Nerak
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 1:36 p.m.
Sometime in the 1990s I sat on a redistricting advisory committee for AAPS. The big hole in the data then was that no one had any idea how many children there were who did NOT attend AAPS (that is, private schools, etc.) and thus who could be attracted into the school system by various targeted means. I sure hope this software enables AAPS to access that data, because otherwise the data only look backwards, not forward, for planning purposes. ALso, it's useful to include the various community and consultant planners in the redistricting conversation, since they add a needed dimension to the true social value of the schools, and they have a good handle about what's going on in the various municipalities.
aamom
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 9:01 p.m.
Actually Charles, I have thought about this. A lot of my neighbors go to Emerson. I think if AAPS created a magnet school for academically advanced kids (where you had to test to get in so no one could just argue that Johnny is gifted) we could lure back some of those kids. I know many of them miss having neighborhood friends, a bus to school etc. but feel like there is no differentiation of instruction at the elementary level (which there isn't).
Charles Curtis
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 8:26 p.m.
If you were a parent sending your kids to a private school, what could possibly lure you back. They made that choice based on more than just closest school. Philosophy, management, religion, and similar factors play in to that. I cant imagine many would re-enter such a poorly managed school system, and then add to that, the management of the school refuses to tell the general public anything. If the only info you get is years out of date and FIFA is the only means to get any current info, why would anyone come back to that. What would lead anyone to believe things were going to improve?
Beth
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 4:48 p.m.
Nerak, that's a really good point. There re a LOT of families in my neighborhood who have chosen charter or private schools over our neighborhood middle school. Some families even leave for charters in elementary school because of this. Would some come back if our school changed? Probably.
aamom
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 3:37 p.m.
I totally agree. There are a TON of kids in my neighborhood who attend private school.
Wake Up A2
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 1:34 p.m.
ArcGIS is the industry standard software. I believe both pioneer and skyline have staff you can use it. No brainier here...
davecj
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 1:32 p.m.
It's about time that AAPS looks at closing under-enrolled schools. We have way too many buildings in this district. There should not be elementary schools with 300 students or less. It adds too much to the overhead of the district. I would rather see fully enrolled schools, which would allow you to hire more classroom teachers with the savings from not having to maintain all these buildings!
Charles Curtis
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 8:33 p.m.
I believe the school sizes are an issue going back to when 6th grade was moved to middle schools, and 9th grade moved to HS. Most the buildings were designed for a much different alignment of students. I believe the larger elementary schools are the ones mostly near capacity, its the smaller elementary's that have space, but no easy way to fill or move them with the way they are spread out. That said they need to consolidate the buildings. It make more sense to have larger elementarys than smaller. The kids dont move from home room except for special classes, music, gym, and computers. So a bigger school does not impact them as much as it does older kids who have to sprint around large buildings for each class. Costwise....its a no brainer, fewer buildings equal less overhead (heat, electricity, maintenance, administrators, etc)
Thoughtful
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 4:51 p.m.
Are there under enrolled middle schools? Could the other schools absorb the kids if one was to close?
PhillyCheeseSteak
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 4:34 p.m.
I agree. It's almost unbelievable to me that the BOE and AAPS Administration chooses to cut teachers, programs, and high school busing BEFORE consolidating and closing under-enrolled elementary and middle schools.
thankfulmom132
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 1:24 p.m.
I'm sure redistricting needs to happen. But, doesn't it make more sense to first hire an outside consultant to audit AAPS finances? How do you even know where to cut without this information? If the board (except Mr. Thomas) thought spending $5000 on food for meetings was "pennies" to spend, just imagine all the pennies that would be found. I agree that "third eyes" are always good. Just seems to me that if you are truly looking after the best interests of the students and taxpayers that an outside consultant to audit AAPS finances should be the first "third eye" to appear.
Charles Curtis
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 8:35 p.m.
Sad thing id the district keeps such crappy records, or lack of detail in records, an audit would be pretty useless, maybe thats why they do such a poor job, prevent the taxpayers from demanding an audit?
America
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 1:01 p.m.
I love Ann Arbor and feel that it is mostly an open minded community. However, last time we tried redistricting I got that feel that the Ann Arbor motto is "You can be whatever color you want as long as it is green". I am suggesting that we may put a pretty face on any racism in the area however classism is out there load and clear. Maybe I am wrong and maybe Angell and Burns and other places really are up for negotiation. I guess we will see.
Thoughtful
Thu, May 23, 2013 : 12:17 a.m.
I was asking for a number folks. Awful quick on the down votes today. Simple question.
Haran Rashes
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 9:04 p.m.
As I said in another post, AAPS only has old data on the website. But here is the ethnic breakdown of each building: http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/aaps/aaps.data/10_11_headcount_by_ethnic_group_by_school
Thoughtful
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 4:52 p.m.
What is Angells enrollment?
dotdash
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 4:16 p.m.
Angell draws from extremely economically diverse communities already: its geographical neighbors, an area between Washtenaw and Clark, and an area on the Northside. (Or were you happy with your non-fact-based stereotype?)
antikvetch
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 12:52 p.m.
We need to hire a consultant to determine which areas we need to hire consultants.
Thoughtful
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 4:44 p.m.
Maybe there could be a meeting about it? We could get $5,000 for some food and have a chat. It's only pennies, after all.
EyeHeartA2
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 12:47 p.m.
The software states the obvious. It just allows the school district to have an electronic fall guy. Remember the Skyline fiasco? It was obvious that with three real high schools and 5 middle schools, some would be split. The squeaky wheels at Clague whinned and complained and moaned about "having" to go to Skyline. It was "dangerous" and "unfair", blah, blah, blah. The smartest city in the country just couldn't come to grips with the fact the 5/3 was not a whole number and some schools would be split. ohmygod!!! So the school board went ahead and did what needed to be done, but at least they had a consultant to use as a fall guy.
olddog
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 12:27 p.m.
I'm sure that WAKE UP A2'S statement is accurate. The tech HS in several districts in Mi. have had students do bus routes as final class projects. Why don't we add as a criteria the real estate value of the buildings, perhaps we would discover that some buildings, like maybe Angell might be more valuable closed than open, the right answer may have nothing to do with test scores, demographics, or opinions of the very well placed population of a building. There may be some right answers that will irritate a very small but vocal group but are good for the community. Are we looking at maintenance cost of buildings as a criteria. logic would suggest that some of the building are so old it would be cheaper to sell them. Large grade configurations like Bryant could allow for savings on share grade specific programs.
Beth
Wed, May 22, 2013 : noon
If/when they redistrict, I would really like to see elementary schools not be split to 2 middle schools. We have 20 elementary schools and 5 middle schools at the moment, and it seems like 4 elementaries should feed to each middle school, but that is not the case. It's really hard on kids to be split from their friends - middle school is already a tough enough time. And it creates bad feelings in the elementary community - parents and kids often proclaim that one middle school is "better" and stigmatize the other. As much as possible, kids should move through K-12 with the same cohort, adding more schools/kids in middle and high schools.
Beth
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 4:31 p.m.
Basic Bob - Scarlett is the school my children will attend, and I'm sick of hearing from people who don't have kids there how bad it is. My frends who are Scarlett parents are happy with the school. I just wih my kids weren't going to be split from most of their friends in 6th grade. Scarlett or Tappan, I don't care, as long as they all move on to the same middle school together.
Basic Bob
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 4:12 p.m.
Sounds like redlining to keep the Scarlett kids isolated from People Like Us.
Blazingly Busy
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 11:57 a.m.
I am really glad that my daughter graduates in 2014 and my youngest in 2018. It's not that I will no longer think the schools are important, but maybe I will stop being pissed off every time I read anything about AAPS. How did they do the redistricting when Skyline opened? Did they use software then? If so, can't that be used again? If there are teachers in the district who could use this software, why would the district pay a consultant (typically very overpriced) to do it?
Blazingly Busy
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 5:09 p.m.
Basic Bob, when my children were elementary aged I wanted them to go to the elementary school closest to our neighborhood. For us that was Lakewood and that is indeed where my children went (my daughter was in the first "graduating" class since they re-opened.) I wanted the same for middle school and high school. Both kids went to Forsythe. My daughter went to Skyline. It is likely that my youngest son will end up at Pioneer though because they are better equipped to handle his special needs and to spark his interest in school through one of the programs available at Pioneer but not at Skyline. He is Special Ed though so that doesn't work the same. I understand diversity but I don't understand bussing kids across town to achieve diversity, especially when cuts to the transportation program for high schools are on the table. Maybe we should force people to live in certain neighborhoods to increase diversity in both the neighborhoods and the schools? Diversity is certainly a good thing but I am not sure it can be forced.
Thoughtful
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 4:41 p.m.
It's truly sad that getting an education for your kids has to be so stressful. Also sad is that parents are put on the defensive, and work against each other, when we are not the problem. The leadership in this district is the problem.
Basic Bob
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 4:09 p.m.
Walkingjoe, what input from parents? No one wants to go to the "bad" schools. Everyone wants to go to the 'good' schools, with all their friends. How is that helpful?
WalkingJoe
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 4:03 p.m.
I can only imagine your struggles.
Blazingly Busy
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 2:55 p.m.
Walking Joe, try having a special needs child...
WalkingJoe
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 2:48 p.m.
Blazingly Busy, I know what you mean. When our girls were in school everyone I worked with told me how they envied us because our kids were in Ann Arbor schools. I didn't feel that way when they would redistrict or change bus routes, etc without any input from parents.
Blazingly Busy
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 2:36 p.m.
I find it interesting that I got two votes down. I didn't put the school down...I just mentioned that I am sick of dealing with a school district that can't seem to budget. I moved from Ypsilanti TO Ann Arbor to put my kids in this district...I guess at least AAPS is still a district.
towncryer
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 1:08 p.m.
It's sad that you have to look forward to time going faster so your kids can get out of AAPS....but I feel the SAME way (as do many of my co-workers and friends).
WalkingJoe
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 12:27 p.m.
Our daughters graduated over 10 years ago from Huron and every time I read about the schools in Ann Arbor I'm glad I don't have kids there anymore. We thought we had trouble dealing with counselors and teachers then, I can only imagine what it's like now with the administration they have now.
Mike58
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 11:54 a.m.
I hope they do a better job this time. When Skyline opened the boundries were set so our daughter was sent to Skyline instead of Huron. This tripled the time she had to travel and separated her from her elementary and middle school friends. Now they want to do away with busing and force us to travel that distance everyday down M-14 instead of a 4 minute trip down Huron Parkway to Huron. I have some doubts the software is not going to make a difference when the same people will be making the ultimate decisions. Historically poor decisions.
A2workinmom
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 2:08 p.m.
We are in a similar position on the West side - we live closer to Pioneer but are Skyline district. Without highschool transportation our child will be riding his bike and the route to Pioneer is much safer than the route to Skyline due to the round abouts and no bike lanes on Stadium north or Dexter/Ann Arbor. One hot mess, that is for sure!
Usual Suspect
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 1:45 p.m.
You are not forced to travel on M-14. There are other ways to get there.
DJBudSonic
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 11:48 a.m.
Can you please provide a larger version of the district map?
Danielle Arndt
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 2:05 p.m.
Here's a link to all of the attendance boundaries (elementary, middle and high school) for the Ann Arbor schools. Then if you click the small photo on the page it will take you to a larger Google map: http://www.a2schools.org/aaps/schools/attendance_boundaries.
Jack Gladney
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 12:08 p.m.
The map shown is pretty useless. It could be swapped out with a picture featuring the board of education.
DJBudSonic
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 11:46 a.m.
If there is principle sharing brought on as a result of underperforming or under enrolled schools, how is it decided which administrator stays and which one goes? In at least one of the pairings listed above, the shrinking enrollment is a direct result of poor administration.
DonBee
Thu, May 23, 2013 : 3:42 a.m.
Bet they keep the one that is an issue in that pair.
jcj
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 11:36 a.m.
Great, outsource ANYTHING that might take some thought. All this board is capable of is deciding what kind of new chairs to get and what is the food for the night!
Barzoom
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 10:55 a.m.
No one in any part of government in this city can do anything without hiring an outside consultant, even if they have competent people already on staff.
Jack Gladney
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 12:16 p.m.
They are in training for their collective higher aspirations. In Washington, this is known as plausible deniability.
thinker
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 11:30 a.m.
That way no one who lives in the community ever has to take responsibility for any bad results of their actions and it means never having to say you're sorry!
RUKiddingMe
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 10:53 a.m.
Good Lord. This whole consultant/study thing was a bad joke about 7 years ago. We seriously don't have the means to figure out where kids who go to school live? This town is not big enough to require the aid of outside parties for simple tasks and low populations like this. This school district needs LESS money, not more. If they had less they might start trying to figure out how to DO things instead of how to BUY things. It's like how super rich people can't change their own tires or oil.
J. A. Pieper
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 10:28 a.m.
I am sure this redistricting software will be programmed to avoid touching certain schools! The squeaky wheel populations will get what they want, and some of the other schools will carry the load as far as neighborhood disruptions.
Wake Up A2
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 10:19 a.m.
The last time this was done they didnt let any of their staff help because they wouldnt like the outcome. I know of two teachers trained in GIS that could do it. But go ahead and hire outside, you have the money.
thinker
Wed, May 22, 2013 : 11:30 a.m.
I believe you're using sarcasm there, right?