With realignment now finalized, district under deadline pressure

Class was in session Thursday in 41 elementary schools and nine middle schools in Colorado Springs School District 11.

When the new school year begins in mid-August, the district will have 34 elementary schools and eight middle schools, and more than 2,000 students will attend a different school.

As the changes approved Wednesday by the D-11 board reverberated through the district, protest signs and yellow ribbons were posted at schools that will close, and tears were shed. A handful of parents pulled their kids from closing schools and enrolled them elsewhere.

And in the district's administrative offices, a daunting list of tasks confronted those working on the transition during the next five months. Key among the tasks is a school boundary plan for the affected areas that is due to the board by April 15, and a districtwide boundary plan due by March 15, 2010.

But first on the agenda Thursday: meeting with principals and drafting a letter to parents that is to be sent home with students today, said D-11 spokeswoman Elaine Naleski.

The superintendent's team will meet Monday to work on the transition plan and assign tasks to administrators and committees, she said. She said transition information will be posted on the D-11 Web site under "frequently asked questions."

In the meantime, here are answers to immediate questions about the changes:

Question: When will parents know which school their child will be assigned to?

Answer: That will be finalized with the boundary study, expected in late April. General reassignments include: Students from Whittier, Buena Vista and Washington elementary schools will go to West Middle School, in a separate kindergarten-fifth-grade program. Montessori students at Buena Vista will move to Washington. Adams Elementary students will go to Hunt Elementary.

Ivywild Elementary students likely will go to Hunt or Midland; Jefferson Elementary students will move to Audubon, Queen Palmer or Twain; Longfellow Elementary students are expected to go to Grant, Penrose, Audubon or Twain; Pike Elementary students will go to Bristol or Jackson, and Irving Middle School students will go to Emerson or Sabin.

Q: When will a decision be made on Wasson High School?

A: The board directed the administration to work with the Wasson community and submit options on March 11.

Q: Will the choice window be extended so those who don't want to attend their assigned school can choose another?

A: The choice window was extended to April 1, but another extension is likely. Also, the administration will discuss how additional permits will be processed.

Q: When is kindergarten registration?

A: Usually in mid-April, it could be delayed until after the boundary plan is approved.

Q: What happens to staff at closing schools?

A: Teachers generally will follow students to other schools but have the option of seeking other positions.

The principal assignments are expected to be made by late March, and staffing decisions will follow that and the boundary decisions.

Q: Are community meetings scheduled?

A: Not yet. But meetings are planned with school communities during the transition, and other meetings on boundary changes.

Q: Is more change coming?

A: The D-11 board directed the district to study where programs should be housed, the feasibility of the kindergarten-eighth-grade concept and program alignment, among other things, over the next year. It also directed the administration to develop community partnerships as it decides what to do with vacated school buildings.

Q: What will happen to the empty buildings?

A: That's unknown with some, such as Pike, Irving and Ivywild. Others will be filled immediately. The Bijou Alternative School, for example, will move into the Whittier building, and the Montessori program will move into Washington. Talks are under way about other possible uses.

Q: Where can I find more information?

A: At www.d11.org. The district plans to use its Web site for public input and to answer questions. It will also post meetings and other information when available. Current boundary maps are on the school utilization page.

Q: Who can I call for information?

A: The public relations office, 520-2005.

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Call McMillin at 636-0251