Superintendent Jerry Wilson announced at the Board of Education meeting May 13 that Scenario B1 has been selected for the new Poudre School District high school boundaries that will go into effect fall 2009.
The boundary decision follows a comprehensive process involving two committees that met for more than eight months to analyze, create, and review scenario options.
Boundary changes will be phased in over two years; all current 10th- and 11th-grade students in affected areas will be allowed to finish their high school career at their current high school.
A total of four boundary areas will be moved with this boundary change, but only one boundary area differentiated Scenario A1 and Scenario B1, the two scenarios that were being considered for adoption.
Board members commented on the success of the process leading to the boundary decision, and complimented the Boundary Steering Committee and Review Committee members for their work.
Following is the rationale presented by Dr. Wilson and Cabinet members for selecting Scenario B1:
· The selected boundary decision creates a true feeder for Fort Collins High School (FCHS), meaning all Boltz Junior High attendance areas will feed exclusively to FCHS. With previous boundaries, FCHS was the only PSD high school that did not have a true feeder.
· The new high school boundaries will better balance high school enrollment, as well as make room for the ninth graders who are scheduled to enter high schools in 2009. Regardless of grade configuration, high school boundaries needed to be analyzed due to changes in demographics and student enrollment that occur over time.
· Both scenario options created a needed reduction in student enrollment for PSD. Scenario B1 also maintains a potential future growth area for Poudre High School with boundary area 1582 remaining in its attendance area.
· The decision also leaves room in Fossil Ridge High School to accommodate anticipated future enrollment growth expected in the southeast area of the City of Fort Collins in coming years.
Summary of boundary modifications:
· Two boundary areas north of Vine and south of Mountain Vista (boundary areas1584 and 6951) will be moved from Poudre High School to Fort Collins High School.
· Rocky Mountain High School’s attendance area remains unchanged with the exception of a small area (boundary area 6161). A majority of these students are already attending RMHS through school choice. This boundary move aligns Blevins Junior High to exclusively feed RMHS.
· Boundary area 1293 will be moved from Fossil Ridge High School to Fort Collins High School.
Process leading to decision:
The Boundary Steering Committee, which led the process and analyzed more than 20 scenarios since September, showed support for both recommended scenarios. Input was received from the Review Committee, comprised of parent/community members and principals or assistant principals from each school.
Parents and community members also had the opportunity to view the scenarios and voice their opinions at four community meetings held in late February and early March. Extensive communication with parents throughout the process has included school newsletter articles, using the district’s phone message system to notify parents of meetings, two e-newsletters to PSD parents, continuous website postings, monthly updates and local news media coverage.
April 21: The boundary recommendation, made up of two scenarios, was presented to Cabinet members for consideration.
April 28 and May 5: Cabinet discussed the pros and cons of the two recommended scenarios, and selected Scenario B1.
May: Families impacted by boundary changes will be welcomed to their new neighborhood high school. Letters will also be sent out by the end of May to those families affected by 2009 boundary changes. Students living in impacted areas will be reminded of boundary changes again prior to fall 2009 when the changes go into affect.
School Choice
PSD’s School Choice policy (JFBA - CHOICE/OPEN ENROLLMENT) will be followed consistently and enrollment at schools will be monitored on a year-to-year basis to operate schools effectively and efficiently. Rocky Mountain High School will remain closed to School Choice students for the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years. School Choice will be considered for other PSD high schools.
Future committee work
A new Boundary Steering Committee will be formed to analyze elementary and middle school boundaries beginning fall 2008. The new committee will include new members, as well as some existing Steering and Review Committee members. Anyone interested in serving on the Steering or Review Committee should contact their school principal.
For more information regarding boundaries, contact Sarah Siple, PSD Business Services, at 490-3501, or at ssiple@psdschools.org.
