posted with permission:
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Dear Board of Trustees and Dr. Forgione,
I have attached a spreadsheet (MSForecast 2003 vs 2004.xls) that includes the updated projections provided by Dennis Harner, the demographer hired by AISD. The top chart is the data that was provided in late March by AISD staff, the bottom chart includes the latest projections from Dennis Harner. I have included all middle school data. The data clearly shows that the need is greater in South Austin than in the NE. I left the Dan Robertson highlighting in place to show AISD staff recommendations.
I have included a second spreadsheet (Enrollment vs Capacity.xls), that details the current enrollment vs projections for the middle schools identified for relief in this bond package. Please look at the number of students in the forecasted area membership, not just percentages. Percentages are misleading as permanent building capacities are larger at Paredes, Bailey and Small (1100 per school) than at Dobie or Pearce (900 per school). The 2008-09 projected number of 'excess' students at Paredes, Bailey and Small is 1146 students, while the projected number for Dobie and Pearce is 308 students. An additional unfortunate fact is that current enrollment at Paredes, Bailey and Small are all at or above 100% capacity, while Dobie and Pearce enrollments are at 83% and 89% respectively.
The proposed bond package is supposed to provide for the children. AISD staff and the CBAC have recommended boundary adjustments as the solution to overcrowding in the South and SW Austin. Boundary adjustments will result in increased bussing of children to schools that are further from their neighborhoods. If construction of a middle school for the SW is not financed in this bond package, the result will be many additional miles of bussing each day for over 1100 children. The absence of the SW middle school will ensure many more thousands of automobile and bus miles, transporting kids to schools well outside their neighborhoods. This has a negative environmental impact on the Edwards aquifer that should be considered.
It has been brought to my attention that at least a portion of the resistance to the addition of a middle school in the SW is because of the Edwards aquifer and concern that it will become a magnet for growth over the aquifer. I would like to take this opportunity to point out that the proposed middle school is located over the contributing zone, not the recharge zone. This middle school site was chosen as part of extensive negotiations between the City of Austin, Stratus Properties (the owner), surrounding neighborhoods and environmentalists. The school, when built, will fully comply with the water quality provisions and impervious cover limitations of the SOS ordinance on-site as well as with the greenbuilder standards agreed to in the Austin/Stratus development agreement that was approved by a super-majority vote of the Austin City Council.
The school district would seem to concur that this is an appropriate site, Slaughter and 1826, for a middle school because it recently entered into an option to purchase the property for just that purpose. A middle school at this location will provide a neighborhood school for children living in current and planned construction in the Southwest, while also helping to relieve overcrowding in the South.
Growth in the SW and projected overcrowding are deserving of more than just boundary adjustments. Please review this data and treat each area of the school district, and all our school children, fairly and equitably.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Merritt
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Note: If you would like to review the two spreadsheets, just drop me a line at the email address below.
FYI
Carolyn Merritt is the chair for the CCHOA Education Committee.
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Dear Board of Trustees and Dr. Forgione,
I have attached a spreadsheet (MSForecast 2003 vs 2004.xls) that includes the updated projections provided by Dennis Harner, the demographer hired by AISD. The top chart is the data that was provided in late March by AISD staff, the bottom chart includes the latest projections from Dennis Harner. I have included all middle school data. The data clearly shows that the need is greater in South Austin than in the NE. I left the Dan Robertson highlighting in place to show AISD staff recommendations.
I have included a second spreadsheet (Enrollment vs Capacity.xls), that details the current enrollment vs projections for the middle schools identified for relief in this bond package. Please look at the number of students in the forecasted area membership, not just percentages. Percentages are misleading as permanent building capacities are larger at Paredes, Bailey and Small (1100 per school) than at Dobie or Pearce (900 per school). The 2008-09 projected number of 'excess' students at Paredes, Bailey and Small is 1146 students, while the projected number for Dobie and Pearce is 308 students. An additional unfortunate fact is that current enrollment at Paredes, Bailey and Small are all at or above 100% capacity, while Dobie and Pearce enrollments are at 83% and 89% respectively.
The proposed bond package is supposed to provide for the children. AISD staff and the CBAC have recommended boundary adjustments as the solution to overcrowding in the South and SW Austin. Boundary adjustments will result in increased bussing of children to schools that are further from their neighborhoods. If construction of a middle school for the SW is not financed in this bond package, the result will be many additional miles of bussing each day for over 1100 children. The absence of the SW middle school will ensure many more thousands of automobile and bus miles, transporting kids to schools well outside their neighborhoods. This has a negative environmental impact on the Edwards aquifer that should be considered.
It has been brought to my attention that at least a portion of the resistance to the addition of a middle school in the SW is because of the Edwards aquifer and concern that it will become a magnet for growth over the aquifer. I would like to take this opportunity to point out that the proposed middle school is located over the contributing zone, not the recharge zone. This middle school site was chosen as part of extensive negotiations between the City of Austin, Stratus Properties (the owner), surrounding neighborhoods and environmentalists. The school, when built, will fully comply with the water quality provisions and impervious cover limitations of the SOS ordinance on-site as well as with the greenbuilder standards agreed to in the Austin/Stratus development agreement that was approved by a super-majority vote of the Austin City Council.
The school district would seem to concur that this is an appropriate site, Slaughter and 1826, for a middle school because it recently entered into an option to purchase the property for just that purpose. A middle school at this location will provide a neighborhood school for children living in current and planned construction in the Southwest, while also helping to relieve overcrowding in the South.
Growth in the SW and projected overcrowding are deserving of more than just boundary adjustments. Please review this data and treat each area of the school district, and all our school children, fairly and equitably.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Merritt
-------
Note: If you would like to review the two spreadsheets, just drop me a line at the email address below.
FYI
Carolyn Merritt is the chair for the CCHOA Education Committee.
