Framingham Reorganization Plan

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Framingham Reorganization Plan

• Educational Advantage
• Balance
• Flexibility
• Sustainability
• Choice

2
Framing the Discussion

• Must add value to what is presently
  educationally strong in Framingham with an eye to
  the future!

3
Educational Goals

• Produce desired academic results for all students
• Provide coordinated professional development
  targeted at clear expectations for classroom
  instruction
• Build a system in which specialized programs
  (Special Education, English Language Learner,
  Sage, Title I, etc.) can easily coordinate and
  maximize efficiencies

4
Task Force

• Town Meeting resolution to review current student
  assignment process
• Best possible education
• Within the constraints of Federal, State, and
  local funding and laws

5
Why Consider Change?

• Respond to the Task Force Report
• Build efficiency and long range fiscal planning
• Proactive approach to Federal and State
  Initiatives including emergence of Race To The
  Top (RTTT)
• Need
• For flexibility due to population shifts
• To establish consistency of student experience
• To focus staff professional development

6
The Process

• Task Force work and report (February to November,
  2008)
• Establish internal work group
• Fall and winter meetings (2009)
• Public Process for Feedback (January 2010)
• Final Recommendation based on Feedback (February
  2010)

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Work Group

• Core Work Group
• Rosie Alvarez-ONeil
• Teresa Carney
• Anna Carollo Cross
• Sarah Guernsey
• Steven Hiersche
• Susan McGilvray-Rivet
• Betsey McKeon
• Mike Welch
• Robin Welch

• Ad Hoc Members
• Rick Gallagher
• Matt Torti
• Christine Tyrie
• Carolyn Burke
• Paula DelPrete
• Minerva Gonzalez
• Judith Kelly
• William McDonald
• Charles McInnis
• Juan Rodriguez
• Kim Taylor
• Joan Vodoklys

8
Goals for Plan

• Add educational advantages currently not in place
  for all
• Preserve selected choice opportunities
• Address balance by placement of programs
• Attain savings in transportation
• Avoid frequent redistricting

9
The Present
10
Present Organization

• 8 Elementary Schools (K-5)
• 1 houses the Two-Way Program
• All 8 feed into 3 Middle Schools

11
Current Model

• Provides choice for some
• Are choices clear and distinct?
• Under increasing standards and requirements is
  choice sustainable?
• Is there significant cost to the choice?
• Places programs where space is available
• Creates multiple service delivery models often
  placed where there was space
• Addresses challenges reactively

12
The Future
13
Reorganization

• Three pairs of schools, each pair comprised of a
  K-2 and a 3-5 school
• Two choice schools K-5 Horace Mann Charters
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Two-way Bilingual

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Elementary Reorganization

• Pairs Option 1
• Dunning, Stapleton
• Hemenway, Potter Road
• McCarthy, Wilson
• Choice (Charter)
• IB at Barbieri
• Two-way at Brophy

• Pairs Option 2
• Hemenway, Dunning
• Potter Road, Stapleton
• McCarthy, Wilson
• Choice (Charter)
• IB at Barbieri
• Two-way at Brophy

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Program Placement

• Each pairing will have an English Language
  Learner program and Special Education programs
• Increased number of classes at each grade level
  provide additional opportunities for integration
  for all students

16
Assignment Consideration

• Students assigned to the pairs based on
  residence, program and space availability
• Students assigned to International Baccalaureate
  and Two-Way Schools based on lottery

17
Educational Advantages of K-2/3-5 Pairs

• Improved instruction
• Professional Development more targeted at
  educational and developmental needs of one age
  range of students
• Programs remain within one pair
• Resources and personnel consolidated and targeted
  toward educational needs of students

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Educational Advantages of K-2/3-5 Pairs

• Principals collaborate in two-person teams K-2
  and 3-5
• Specialized programs housed in each pair,
  providing continuity for these students
• Greater diversity of the student body at each
  elementary school

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Overall Advantages

• Capitalizes on Framinghams history of innovative
  programming for all children
• Two choice schools that fit with Framingham
  diversity and culture
• Flexibility and potential for reduced costs
  create a more sustainable model for the future
• More balanced elementary schools will lead to
  more balanced middle schools

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Advantages of Horace Mann Charter Schools

• Opportunity for increased state aid
• Funds do not leave district does not compete
  with operating budget (unlike Commonwealth
  Charter)
• Broader community involvement (Governance Board)
• Two-Way program meets the criteria for a Horace
  Mann Charter School
• Convert while reinforcing the integrity of the
  program
• Staff committed to the unique programs

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What is an International Baccalaureate School?
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International Baccalaureate

• Rigorous, academic, structured curriculum
• Encourages students to be active learners
• International standards on assessment
• Centered on Six Transdisciplinary Themes
• Who we are
• Where we are in place and time
• How we express ourselves
• How the world works
• How we organize ourselves
• Sharing the planet
• Requirement for second language instruction
• Intensive professional development

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Sources for Information

• Horace Mann Charter School
• http//www.doe.mass.edu/charter/about.html
• International Baccalaureate Primary Years
  Programme
• http//www.ibo.org/pyp/

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Additional Advantages
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Potential Financial Savings

• Transportation
• Shared resources and economies of scale at the
  elementary level
• Consolidation of staff
• Start up money for charters, 100,000 per charter
  school (assuming successful application)
• New Special Education program (possible revenue
  from other districts)

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Implementation

• Difficult FY11 Budget
• Stimulus Funding Cliff
• Emergence of Race To The Top (RTTT)
• Impact of charter schools
• Possible funding source
• Possible timelines
• Phase in
• Fully implement 2010 or 2011

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Input and Information

• reorgteam_at_framingham.k12.ma.us
• Check www.framingham.k12.ma.us for FAQs
• Forums for community
• January 11 700 Fuller cafeteria
• January 14 700 FHS cafeteria
• Forums for staff
• January 6 300 FHS auditorium
• January 7 415 FHS auditorium

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Planning for The Future

• Middle Schools
• Balancing feeders
• High School
• Addressing growing population
• Facility needs
• Stapleton
• Fuller
• Juniper Hill