P1213 CLOSING OF ATTENDANCE CENTERS

BOARD POLICY:

The administration is responsible for assessing the utilization of school facilities and other resources, one purpose being to identify schools which might be discontinued as attendance centers. The Superintendent of Schools will seek direction from the Board of Education prior to making recommendations relative to a district-wide facilities assessment or the closing of specific attendance unit(s). Once a school which can be closed is identified, an appropriate recommendation will be made to the Board of Education for action.

Periodically, the Board of Education and administration may conduct a districtwide assessment of utilization of facilities and projection of building needs. A task force, which will include a broad representation of community citizens appointed by the Board of Education, will give direction to such studies. The task force may also be involved in the review of recommendations for school closings.

Administrative Implemental Procedures:

1.      Initially, the administration will identify a school which might be discontinued as an attendance center.

2.      Alternatives to closing a school to be considered include the following:

a.       Changing of boundaries; with consideration given to the effect upon enrollments in schools affected by changes

b.      Shifting of programs from one building to another

c.       Housing of new programs(s) in building under consideration

3.      Factors to be examined when considering a school for closing include the following:

a.       Enrollment and program

(1)   Number of regular and special pupils currently in attendance

(2)   Enrollment in relation to that needed to provide quality of educational programs and services and efficient building utilization

(3)   Pupil enrollment in relationship to unique program offerings and community needs

(4)   Enrollment projections indicative of continued small pupil population, taking into account both neighborhood pupils and others

(5)   Effect upon programs for pupils in all schools affected by the closing

(6)   Relationship to integration efforts

(7)   Proximity of the school to community resources

(8)   Relationship to feeder plan for special education and feeder plan for regular attendance centers

(9)   Consistency with school district commitment to provide special education, integrated education, vocational education, and alternative education programs

b.      Community considerations

(1)   Attitudes toward reducing the number of attendance units and reducing costs

(2)   Hardships and/or benefits to parents and/or children resulting from closing a school; distance from where pupils reside to schools where assignments would be made

(3)   Reactions on the part of parents and other school patrons

(4)   Effect upon the neighborhood in the event a school is closed

c.       Building characteristics

(1)   Age and condition of building including whether or not building is energy efficient

(2)   Adequacy of building for programs; existence of a multipurpose room and/or other special areas; feasibility of replacement or additions, if needed

(3)   Suitability of the building for other uses

(4)   Capacity of buildings in adjacent attendance areas; space to house additional pupils

(5)   Operational and maintenance costs for previous three (3) school years

d.      Environmental factors

(1)   Adequacy of the building in terms of pupil health and safety

(2)   Frequency of vandalism and amount of damage

(3)   Location and size of site

(4)   Traffic hazards and/or serious deterrents to learning in the surrounding community

e.       Financial considerations

(1)   Staffing requirements

(2)   Food service and pupil transportation requirements and expenses resulting from closing a school

(3)   Comparative per pupil operating costs related to status quo

(4)   Value of property for other uses

(5)   Saving which might accrue by reducing the number of attendance units

f.        Relationship to long range planning efforts

(1)      Comprehensive planning of the school district, other governmental bodies and planning agencies, and private interests

(2)      Need to utilize property for other purposes

(3)      Current and projected land use resulting in changes in residential and commercial patterns

4.      The Superintendent of Schools will seek guidance from members of the Board of Education prior to making recommendations relative to the possible closing of attendance units.

5.      After a school is identified for possible closing and the Board of Education has given approval to study the particular situation, parents and other school patrons of the attendance area will be involved immediately in discussions pertaining to the possible closing.

6.      Other governmental agencies may be involved in the study to assure consistency and coordination in matters of community planning and development.

7.      Outside consultants may be utilized to assist in the study of a possible school closing.

8.      An orderly procedure, including the provision of information to all whom will be affected, will be utilized when giving serious consideration to closing a school. The administrative process, except in unusual situations, to obtain Board of Education approval to close one or more schools will consist of the following procedures:

a.       Soon after the official enrollment has been determined during the first semester of school, the Superintendent of Schools will present for approval a recommendation to the Board of Education, concerning a study of the possible closing of a school for the following school year.

b.      If the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools for further consideration and study is approved by the Board of Education, appropriate staff members will be delegated the responsibility to complete the study.

c.       A community advisory committee or committees consisting of appropriate representation will be utilized and approved by the Superintendent of Schools to study all relevant data and submit suggestions to the administration.

d.      By the end of the first semester of the school year when the study was proposed, the Superintendent of Schools will submit to the Board of Education relevant data for their consideration. Such data might include suggestions from the advisory committee(s), information from the administration, and preliminary recommendations from the administration regarding closing of a school.

e.       The Superintendent of Schools, working with the President of the Board of Education, will schedule committee-of-the-whole meetings of the Board to review and discuss the preliminary recommendations of the administration regarding school closings. Information regarding recommendations and meeting dates will be made available to parents.

f.        By the middle of the second semester, the Superintendent of Schools will submit final recommendations regarding the school closing(s) under study. The recommendations will be presented early enough to assure time for sufficient public review by the Board of Education at a regular or committee of the whole meeting prior to final action.

g.       The Board of Education will act on the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools no later than the second regular board meeting in April of the school year in which the study has been conducted.

9.      If the Board of Education has approved the closing of a school, the administration will use reasonable means to inform parents of children affected by the closing about their new school assignment.

10.  Necessary realignment of boundaries may be made when a school is to be closed, taking into account distances from other schools, traffic patterns, building capacities, enrollments, and programs.

11.  Administrative planning for reassignment of pupils and staff members, disposition of equipment and furniture, etc., normally will be completed prior to the end of the school year.

12.  Alternate uses of the building or disposition of the property will be considered in light of current and projected needs.

Administrative Responsibility: Superintendent

Latest Revision Date: February 2006

Previous Revision Date: March 1999 P1213