District elementary school boundaries are likely to be changed
again, possibly as soon as next fall. Parents and teachers from
Barrett Elementary have twice attended meetings to tell trustees
their school is in danger of being overcrowded and burdened with
more than their fair share of students from low socio-economic
backgrounds who may need more support than the current staff can
give.
District elementary school boundaries are likely to be changed again, possibly as soon as next fall.
Parents and teachers from Barrett Elementary have twice attended meetings to tell trustees their school is in danger of being overcrowded and burdened with more than their fair share of students from low socio-economic backgrounds who may need more support than the current staff can give.
Morgan Hill Ranch at the corner of Butterfield Boulevard and East Dunne Avenue, which opened last year and is expanding with a second phase, is in the Barrett boundary limits, as is Jasmine Square, next to the Post Office on Monterey Road. Both are affordable communities for low income families.
The last time boundaries were changed was in 2000 when mini-Barrett opened. The district serves approximately 8,300 students, kindergarten through grade 12.
A boundary committee charged with recommending high school boundaries to the board last year before the opening of Sobrato High also discussed possible redrawing boundaries for the nine elementary schools. Trustees put off the elementary boundaries, giving direction to district staff at the Jan. 12 board meeting to bring back at a future meeting “an action item … with rationale for changing elementary boundaries.”
Parents and teachers attended the Oct. 11 meeting to tell trustees that several low-income housing neighborhoods within the Barrett boundaries are scheduled for completion in the spring. Barrett parent and volunteer Lori Faulk, who served on the last boundary committee, told trustees these neighborhoods need to be taken into consideration.
“I called around (to other district elementary schools), and at Barrett, the 4-6 grade classes on average are four to five students larger than the others,” Faulk said. “You cannot have a school with a majority of very needy students. There are other schools that can offer services and help these students excel.
“You talked about a consultant; what are you going to tell the consultant? You can’t give her the little ranking (of priorities to consider when drawing boundaries) we did a year ago; you have to take into account that the complexes going to be built will be filled in a year. If you bring her on board you must give her specifics … Something must be decided. If things aren’t changed, things will not be pleasant for anyone.”
During discussion at the Oct. 11 meeting, trustees directed district staff to consider using a consultant to draw new elementary boundaries.
At Monday’s meeting, Superintendent Carolyn McKennan introduced Cheryl King of Jack Schreder and Associates who presented an overview of “demographic services” trustees could choose to contract with the firm to provide.
“We have twice tried to look at elementary boundaries and reached no conclusion,” said McKennan. “I made some calls to people in the area … Cheryl came highly recommended.”
King said her firm is experienced in making boundary plans and changes for districts.
“With boundaries comes controversy and emotion,” she said. “This is a very difficult issue to make decisions around … We bring expertise to give you this (new boundaries as well as a long-range plan for the future) … We will run scenarios, give you examples of things we think might work. We will seek input on those issues from community and staff.”
King said she could not yet give trustees a price tag for the consulting work Monday night following a request from Trustee Mike Hickey. She said the cost would depend on what services were provided as well as the amount of data that already exists and the amount of data that needs to be “cleaned up.”
McKennan said developer’s fees could be used to pay for the consultant. The board directed King to prepare a proposal to bring to the board.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. She can be reached by e-mail at md****@mo*************.com or phoning (408) 779-4106 Ext. 202
