PSD Emphasizes Steps in Plan, Timeline. 

On Sept. 17, PSD announced that 16 schools are being asked to develop Closure & Consolidation, and/or Innovation & Efficiencies plans in conjunction with criteria established in the PSD Underutilized Schools process (en Espanol).

“The schools we are asking to complete closure and consolidation or innovation and efficiencies plans are currently experiencing the greatest enrollment and financial challenges among all our schools,” says Jerry Wilson, Ph.D. PSD Superintendent of Schools. “However, it’s critical that everyone understands that all schools need to consider efficiencies for future years, given financial realities the district is facing. This is not a one-time event, but a continuation of these efforts.”

A total of 4 elementaries and 1 middle school are being asked to prepare both the closure/consolidation plans (en Espanol) and innovation/efficiencies plans (en Espanol).  Beattie Elementary, Irish Elementary, Lopez Elementary, and Putnam Elementary, and Lincoln IB World Middle School.

Another 9 elementaries and 2 middle schools are being asked to prepare the innovation/efficiencies plan: Cache La Poudre Elementary, Harris Bilingual, Lab School for Creative Learning, Laurel Elementary, Riffenburgh Elementary, Timnath Elementary, and all three Mountain Schools (Livermore, Red Feather, and Stove Prairie), and Blevins and Boltz Middle Schools.

This does NOT automatically mean specific schools are going to close. Following are the steps in the process:

• Sept. 20-Nov. 12: Schools identified develop one or both plans; one is to plan for closure and consolidation; the other is to submit a plan to be more innovative and cost efficient.

• After Nov. 12: Plans reviewed by the Advisory Group of parents and community members, pros and cons identified, and forwarded to the Superintendent and Cabinet.

• Late Nov. and Dec.: Superintendent and Cabinet further analyze plans and develop an administrative recommendation for school closure and consolidation and for school innovation and efficiencies.

• Jan. 11-25: District presents recommendation to Board of Education, and Board takes action.

Kevin Hahn, Ph.D., Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools, presented the process and plan for addressing Underutilized Schools to the Board of Education August 24, and the Board gave the district support for moving forward with the timeline and direction of the plan.

“The process will be open and transparent, with no pre-conceived outcomes,” said Dr. Hahn. “We are highly encouraging school-wide innovation and community involvement in the development of these plans.”

Schools creating plans were identified by the District based on five types of data or criteria applied to all PSD schools through the PSD Underutilized Schools Plan (see criteria chart and additional criteria). These five data points are:

• Small School Study findings, which identified elementary schools with less than 325 students, and middle schools with less than 600 students as those to be studied for closure.
• Low capacity utilization, which identified schools at which less than 65% of the building capacity is being used by students due to low enrollment.
• Low student enrollment, which shows a school’s enrollment is dropping 20% or more, or the projected enrollment trend shows a drop of 10% or more.
• Students “choicing out,” which indicates that 40% or more of neighborhood students are choosing to attend a school outside the neighborhood area.
• Cost efficiency, which indicates a school is receiving 3% or more funds than other schools to compensate for low enrollment.

Schools will be engaging their communities to prepare plans, which are due by November 12. Principals will involve their stakeholders—parents, staff and the community—in the development of plans and keep them informed and involved throughout the process. The district will support schools by providing data and other information.

In June, the Board adopted a resolution concerning underutilized schools, directing district administration to develop a plan that may include closing schools for the 2011-12 school year. The resolution directed administration to present a plan on or before September 1. The resolution also stated that a final recommendation should be developed by January 11, and voted on by the Board on January 25, 2011.

The steps in the process and timeline follow.

DEVELOP UNDERUTILIZED SCHOOL PLAN (June – Aug. 2010)
1. Design plan based on Board Resolution
2. District appoints Advisory Group
3. Advisory Group reviews plan and criteria
4. August 24: District presents plan to Board

SCHOOL SELF STUDY & PLAN DEVELOPMENT (Mid-Sept. – Mid-Nov. 2010)
1. Apply criteria: District identifies schools to develop Closure & Consolidation Plan and/or Innovation & Efficiencies Plan.
2. Schools develop plans involving their school communities

REVIEW OF PLANS (Mid-Nov. - Dec. 2010)
1. Schools present plans to Advisory Group
2. Advisory Group identifies pros and cons of school plans
3. Cabinet reviews school plans and pros and cons

DISTRICT RECOMMENDATION (Jan. 2011)
1. District identifies schools for closure & consolidation and innovation & efficiencies, and presents to Board of Education (Jan. 11, 2011)
2. Public engagement activities held to comment on district recommendation
3. Board votes on District Recommendation (Jan. 25, 2011)