Goal+1+-+STRATEGY+1

Goal 1 - Growth and Change

** Goal Statement: __The District will draft and implement a reorganization plan for the development and efficient utilization of space at the High School, Murray Avenue and Pine Road schools.__ ** **Strategy #1: Obtain accurate information through a combination of outside sources and staff in order to create a plan to minimize adverse effects on students of overcrowding at Pine Road and Murray Avenue prior to completion of the Pine Road addition, and begin plans to address anticipated overcrowding at the High School in the later years of the strategic planning period. In light of the immediacy of the overcrowding issues at Pine Road and Murray Avenue, this goal, and particularly the Pine Road and Murray Avenue portion, should be prioritized.**

2. The Envision Analytics enrollment projections are over a year old. In order to properly determine space needs, have the projections updated, at least for the critical 2008-09, 2009-10 and perhaps 2010-11 school years until the Pine Road addition is complete. 3. Explore leasing space for administrative offices offsite and obtain estimates for any needed renovation in connection with turning administrative offices into classrooms. Evaluate cost of leasing office space vs. cost of modular classrooms. 4. Take proactive steps to determine incoming students from new developments to avoid potential surprises in August. Contact developers for information and send letters to new homeowners or obtain information from the county’s property records. 5. Work with the architect to create a realistic timeline for the Pine Road addition. Create backup plans if construction is delayed. Determine where modular classrooms can be located and what grades would be placed in them. Discuss with school principals and psychologists the impact of moving different grades among buildings and modulars, including disruption if a particular cohort is required to make multiple moves, or younger children are forced to leave a secure environment (e.g. 3rd grade to Murray Avenue during construction). Rank options according to desirability. Aim to minimize disruptions and create programs (such as the 3rd grade visits to Murray Avenue) to minimize angst among students. 6. Consult with teachers on a department and/or grade basis to get input on their perceptions of the educational impact of increased enrollment, larger classes and facilities crowding, especially in light of the curriculum initiatives being instituted at Pine Road. To avoid turning it into a gripe session, teachers could be asked to submit written comments to the principal and superintendent. 7. Educate parents about the Pine Road addition—timing, size and effect of expansion. Minimal information is available on the website. 8. Start process for high school planning now, since by the end of the planning period the high school will be overcrowded. In order to create support among students’ families and a sense of urgency, educate the families about enrollment projections, overcrowding and the timeline to complete an addition. Hire a PR firm to assess community reaction and prepare a campaign. || Complete and used to make placement decisions. Complete. Explored. Determined best use is to remain in same location. Constant contact with township. Economy has limited development. Complete. Transition committees in each building assisted in the planning and implementation of the transition process. Back up plans for opening school developed and not needed; however, adjustments were made to teacher calendar to promote transition. Complete. Principal and staff spent much of 2009-2010 exploring these and other issues developing plans for how to approach concerns in the new building. Complete. Many meetings held and communications sent. Numbers have slowed. There is a 10th grade bubble and a 6th grade bubble. With modifications that have been made to the existing building, resource should suffice for the short term. Modifications include: new roof to parts of the building and transition of the planetarium to science classrooms. || Complete and used to make placement decisions. Complete. Explored. Determined best use is to remain in same location. Constant contact with township. Economy has limited development. Complete. Transition committees in each building assisted in the planning and implementation of the transition process. Back up plans for opening school developed and not needed; however, adjustments were made to teacher calendar to promote transition. Complete. Principal and staff spent much of 2009-2010 exploring these and other issues developing plans for how to approach concerns in the new building. Complete. Many meetings held and communications sent. Numbers have slowed. There is a 10th grade bubble and a 6th grade bubble. With modifications that have been made to the existing building, resource should suffice for the short term. Modifications include: new roof to parts of the building and transition of the planetarium to science classrooms. ||  ||
 * ** Activity Steps ** ||  ** Accomplishments **  ||  ** Next Steps **  ||  ** Comments **  ||
 * 1. Assess classroom needs at Pine Road and Murray Avenue for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years in light of additional enrollment, desire to bring special education population back to LMTSD schools and potential increases in ESL needs. If the enrollment projections are correct, by the 2009-2010 school year, Murray Avenue will need four more regular classrooms (two 5th and two 6th and the same number of 4th, 7th and 8th grade classrooms), in addition to special education and ESL facilities. This will provide data needed to assess the cost of servicing special education needs during the pre-addition completion years.