The Strategic Plan addresses student needs while attempting to develop a system that is more efficient. Currently, we have some elementary classes in the District with more than 30 students. What we are recommending is a uniform approach in which we would cap the elementary classes at 25 students and the secondary classes at 30 students.
In March 2009, the Board of Education approved phasing out 10 schools. Closing schools could create efficiencies without overcrowding classrooms.
The way the District’s schools are currently configured, there are more than 3,000 unused student seats. This means many schools in the District are actually operating under capacity. Schools operating under capacity create inefficiencies in energy management, staffing, and transportation. By closing schools that are phased out and maximizing the use of the remaining buildings, we can better allocate our resources toward key instructional provisions.
While the proposed Strategic Plan calls for a provision to close up to 12 schools, the current five-year Bibb County Local Facilities Plan already called for phasing out 10 elementary schools and building five new schools. This Local Facilities Plan was approved by the Board of Education on March 19, 2009, to be sent to the Georgia Department of Education’s Facilities Division. (View the approval of item FSS-4 here.) Based on this Local Facilities Plan, the state approved the phasing out of 10 schools in the District. These schools included Barden, Bernd, Bruce, Burke, Heard, Jones, Morgan, Porter, Rice, and Riley Elementary Schools. Two of these schools – Bruce and Burke – have been repurposed through renovations or new construction. The remaining eight schools to be phased out no longer qualify for state funding when it comes to repairs. Even without the Strategic Plan, we would still have to phase out schools. (View the Facilities Plan here.)
The Strategic Plan includes a timeline of five to seven years to properly realign enrollment with the District’s facilities.
Can you explain how you will keep classroom sizes at 25 (elementary) or 30 (secondary) while closing down other schools? I might be missing the idea here.
ReplyDeleteThis is certainly helpful information, but could we please have more details? I know I speak for more than one concerned parent when I say it would be nice to have more specifics. For example, could we have an example of an underutilized facility with specific numbers?
ReplyDeleteWhy are the Two elementary (Heard and Porter) schools in Sub-South bibb county slated to close
ReplyDeleteIn viewing the facilities plan from March 2009, I noticed the Porter was on the list to be phased out and the new Heard indicated estimated FTE of 565, but the current enrollment now is almost 675. There are several new subdivisions now being built in these school districts that will add FTE's to both schools because parents are moving out this way so their children can go to these schools because of their reputation for excellency in teachers, staff and education. If Porter is phased out and their enrollment is probably at least 500, where are the other 110 from Heard and 500 +/- from Porter going? Are they going to one of the 4 new elementary schools? The physical area for Heard alone covers from 5 miles west of the school all the way to the Houston County line on the other side if 247. And as to Skyview, they already have trailers, is there a plan to add rooms to get students inside buildings and replace trailers?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time to share your feedback. Heard Elementary School was identified by the Board to be rebuilt and there are an additional four schools that will be rebuilt. The decision as to where the schools will be located has not been made yet.
DeleteI find the Macon Miracle Plan very disturbing. Our goal should be educating our future leaders, not saving money. This small excerpt doesn't even begin to accurately encompass the extent to which our children will be affected by this plan. This plan will harm our county in very frightening ways.
ReplyDeleteClosing these schools is a great idea! As a teacher in one of these locations it will be refreshing and motivating for students to have updated equipment and be in a new or different school!
ReplyDeleteIt may help if you explain what the abbr in the FP mean.
ReplyDeleteNow you ONLY need to further explain 173 points in "the plan".
Having said all of this where are these kids going to school once the schools have been closed?
ReplyDeleteRumor had it, Heard will be rebuilt, but it could be in a different location, or as a different type of school. IE: High or Middle
ReplyDeleteCan you give specifics on the plan for Heard, and if that may be a possible scenario?
Does this part of the plan mean that a new elementary school will be built in the Rutland area, since both of them are on the phased out list?
ReplyDeleteIn this is true, some schools have fewer students, lets make the playing field even for all....teachers, parents and students
ReplyDeleteWill you have a plan in place to account for students transferring during the school year? If all classes in a school are at their limit, what will happen if a new student transfers in?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your questions about the proposed Strategic Plan. Yes, there will be a plan in place for students who transfer during the school year. The proposal to the Board would not begin until 2013, which will give us enough time to have a clear plan of action in place.
DeleteIf the portfolio of schools is implemented, how would we address the issue of an overwhelming number of students applying to one school?
ReplyDeleteIf the graduation rate increases, as we hope it will by increasing the retention rate at each grade level, won't we then need more schools?
If there become up to twelve fewer schools than we have now, how will rezoning work?
What schools are likely to be cut?
Thank you so much for sharing your concerns. Under the proposed Strategic Plan, students would apply to their first, second, third, and fourth choice among portfolio schools. Our goal would be to try to place students in their first choice school. However, if that first choice is filled to capacity, we would then look at their second and third choices. One of the criteria will be to place students in choices that are as close to their homes as possible.
DeleteI certainly hope you are talking with GHSA about athletic transfers. There are current rules that disqualify a student from athletic teams if they do not go to the school in which they are zoned. While there will be no official "zones" in this plan, I do not know what the GHSA governing body will say about choice of schools, knowing that students could move from school to school every year, giving certain schools an unfair advantage. The only way a student may play for a different school currently is if they physically move into a new school's zone. If that is to stay the same, my hope is that the BOE will educate students and parents on the ramifications when choosing a school.
DeleteBut according to that plan you mention, Heard school would be built. As the only school listed by the esplost specifically by name, Georgia Supreme court has ruled that it must be built. Also as judicial precedence, no funds can be utilized as excess funding for other ventures unless those specifically named have been completed.we look forward to your response to when Heard will be built.
ReplyDeleteAre you aware heard can not be closed and it must be rebuilt?
ReplyDeleteAccording to the proposed plan under Focus Area Structure of Schools, Goal 3, Strategy 1, it reads "Create financial efficiencies by redesigning grade level configurations (i.e., PreK‐3, 4‐7, and 8‐12), changing master schedules, aligning building closures, and adjusting staffing levels through attrition."
ReplyDeleteThe problem I have with everything associated with this goal, including the grade level redesign, changing the high school schedules, and the staff level adjustments is that it all falls under this umbrella of creating financial efficiencies.
Where is the research that supports that any of these ideas are in the best interest of students? The one I have the biggest problem with is the grade levels. It is ludicrous to imagine 4th graders at age 9 in the same building with 7th graders at age 12. The younger ones will be forced to mature faster and probably be exposed to things parents might have very strong objections to.
Please reconsider this part of the plan, if nothing else.
We moved to Bibb County eight years ago, and the only reason that I put my children in Bibb County Public Schools was the reputation of Porter Elementary School. Everyone in my community had nothing but positive things to say about this school. I put two children through Porter, and now my third is in the 1st grade at Porter. I am very concerned about the closing of Porter, whenever it is known as one of the best schools in the county. If Porter is closed, where will my child go to school? I am very concerned and appalled that you will say which schools are to be closed, but you will not tell us where our children will be going to school once you close their school.
ReplyDeleteThose 7th graders could be as old as 16!^!!!!!!
ReplyDelete