5 th Grade Transition Committee Readout & Panel November 8, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

5th Grade Transition Committee Readout & Panel

November 8, 2018

Agenda

• School Board roles and responsibilities
• Historical perspective
• 5th Grade Transition Committee: goal, process &

recommendation

• Next steps
• Q&A

School Board Roles and Responsibilities*

• Set and Establish School Board Policy
• Establish the School District's Budget, and Provide Budget Oversight
• Hire a Superintendent - (RSA 194-C)
• Evaluate the Superintendent - (Ed 303; contract; local policy)
• Conduct Hearings and Serve as an Adjudicative Body (Various

statutes and rules)

• Collective Bargaining - (RSA 273-A)
• Communicate with the public – keep the public informed of

Board actions

• Strategic Planning – Long and Short-Term Goals, Plans and

Objectives

* State Statutes, NHDOE Rules; Source: New Hampshire School Board Association http://www.nhsba.org/index.asp

Rye School District’s Vision for Education

Students leaving Rye schools are engaged learners able to exercise control over their education and have the work habits to be able to meet their own and others’ expectations for learning. They understand that effort and openness to learning are the most important factors in their

• success. They know how to persevere through challenging academic tasks. Rye students are

curious learners and creative thinkers who have developed the knowledge and skills to reflect on and further their education and life experiences. Rye students have a deep understanding of the major concepts in all content areas and are able to apply that learning into new situations. Students are well prepared to enter the next level of their education because they have been meaningfully challenged and well-educated. They possess strong research and critical thinking skills allowing them to investigate and solve complex

• problems. They are able to communicate effectively using a variety of media, especially written

and oral. Rye students use technology effectively to support and demonstrate their learning across all content areas. Rye students are confident, respectful of themselves and others, and contribute positively as

• citizens. They understand how to collaborate to maximize their own and the group’s learning. Rye

students have the skills to get along with their peers and other members of the community. They are open-minded and have learned to understand others’ perspectives. Importantly, they are empathetic as demonstrated by their understanding of how their words and actions affect others.

Agenda

• School Board roles and responsibilities
• Historical perspective
• 5th Grade Transition Committee: goal, process &

recommendation

• Next steps
• Q&A

The Stats

• NH is second oldest state in nation; most rapidly aging state*
• 130/161 of state’s school districts enrollment declined 2001-

2010**

• 2000-2015 Rye population shifts*:
• Children
• 38%
• 18-44
• 32%
• 45-64

+27%

• 65+

+70%

Sources: *Peter Francese, demographer, 2017; **Applied Economic Research 2012

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450

1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 Enrollment

What used to be 60-80 students per grade a decade ago is now approx. 40-50 per grade

Source: Raw data provided by SAU50; projections calculated using a 3-year weighted average cohort survival method utilizing data as of 10/17/17; kindergarten figures from 1972-1994 were based on an average kindergarten progression ratio calculated using 1995-2017 data. These were used to standardize the data during years when Rye did not offer kindergarten.

RES RJH

276 132 362 234 255 132

In 1982, RSD Consolidation Committee published “Report on Investigation of Feasibility of Consolidation of RJH” Current: 253 Current: 127

Timeline of Structural Changes at RJH

2000’s 2012-2013 2016-2017 2019-2020

4 grade level 4 grade level 3 grade level teachers teachers teachers

• Grades 6, 7, 8
• Grades 7, 8 -Grades 6, 7, 8

3 grade level Reductions in Teachers unified arts at RJH

• Grade 6

Middle School Structure Committee, School Use Feasibility Committee, 5th Grade Transition Committee

Article 3 of 2017 School District Ballot

Establish a committee to “study the long-term enrollment projections and consider how to best use the current School District properties to best meet the educational needs of Rye students while striving for fiscally responsible proposals.”

School Use Feasibility Committee

• Status quo
• Expand RES for a Gr k-8 campus; transfer RJH to town
• Gr K-6 at RES; Gr 7&8 and Town Hall offices at RJH
• Tuition RJH students to Portsmouth Middle School
• Tuition Greenland Middle School student to RJH
• Gr Prek-4 at RES; Gr 5-8 at RJH

PreK-4 at RES; Grades 5-8 at RJH

PROS CONS Adolescence defined as ages 10-15; can group 5/6 together and 7/8 together for developmental similarities Concerns for social/emotional development of 5th graders Offers 5th graders access to additional programming: band, STEAM, lifeskills Principal support Allows for long-term flexibility for enrollment changes Maintains community preschool at RES Potentially assists with Rye Recreation space needs

Local School District Structures

Hampton K-2, 3-5, 6-8 North Hampton K thru 8 Greenland K thru 8 Portsmouth K-5, 6-8 Kittery K-3, 4-8 York K-4, 5-8

“They can change their shapes and sizes very easily”

Agenda

• School Board roles and responsibilities
• Historical perspective
• 5th Grade Transition Committee: goal, process &

recommendation

• Next steps
• Q&A

5th Grade Transition Committee - Goal

To identify the most effective and sustainable teaching model for Rye students for the next five years.

Caveats:

• - Board changes, swings in population
• - Private school deflections
• - Pedagogy changes
• - Will need to continue to re-evaluate and improve

5th Grade Transition Committee - Process

• Developed schedule for successful transition
• Called 15 schools with similar configuration
• Visited 3 grade 5-8 middle schools
• York Middle School, Oyster River Middle School, Berwick Academy
• YMS separates 5th graders from older students; other schools do not
• All schools use some form of a two-team teaching model

(Science/Math and SS/ELA)

• Playground equipment was minimal
• Larger class sizes/except Berwick
• All schools offer variation of “Welcome to 5th Grade Orientation Day”

5th Grade Transition Committee – Process (cont.)

• Evaluated various teaching models for RJH 5-8 middle school

structure

• Working session with parents
• Online feedback system
• Examined 5-year population at RJH and recommended class guidelines
• Weekly emails with updates to parent community

5th Grade Transition Committee – Recommendation 3-person teaching team for Grade 5

PROS CONS

Model stays consistent for Grades 5-8 Change from current 5th grade self- contained model Smaller class size Organizational readiness for some students Focus on content areas Common planning time for teacher team; curriculum grouping for staff is easier Easily allows for whole-school initiatives because all grades operate under same model

Poised for growth

• Retention from private school departures
• School Board considering tuition-in program
• Housing developments
• 40 approved units at Rye Airfield; 8 will be workforce housing
• 20 proposed units at Washington/Rte 1; % workforce housing
• 11 lots on South Road
• Organic housing cycles
• With aging town population, real estate may become available

Agenda

• School Board roles and responsibilities
• Historical perspective
• 5th Grade Transition Committee: goal, process &

recommendation

• Next steps
• Q&A

Next Steps – Transition Action Items

• 11/28 RJH open house
• FAQ document completed by open house
• How will you handle 4th and 5th grade clap-out?
• How much interaction will 5th graders have with other

grades?

• How will you handle social activities like dances?
• Coffee talk with RES principal
• Spring student shadow days/step-up day

Next Steps – Staffing and Budget

• Preliminary FY 2020 School District Budget to be discussed at

November 9th meeting at Rye Town Hall

• Administration presents the preliminary budget with review of

personnel, programming, contracted services, transportation, building maintenance

• Regular school board meeting to follow the budget work
• session. Superintendent will provide the recommendation of the

Grade 5 Transition Committee to the Board for approval

• Once the teaching model is approved, the staffing process begins

Next Steps – Staffing and Budget (cont.)

• Article 7 – Transfers, Assignments & Reassignments
• “For the duration of this Agreement, a Teacher who desires a

transfer for the ensuing year must file a written request with the Superintendent before May 1st, if applicable, which shall include grade/subject area of transfer, reason for transfer, and documentation of qualifications for transfer.”

• “When awarding a position, a Teacher’s performance, seniority, and

qualifications will be considered. The final decision pertaining to the transfer will be at the sole discretion of the Superintendent of Schools.”

Next Steps – Staffing and Budget (cont.)

• Internal posting process for Rye School District Staff
• Letters of Intent reviewed by building principals
• Principal Soucy makes recommendation to

Superintendent, then to Rye School Board

• Staffing configuration announced by February

Q&A - Expectations

• Questions must be on tonight’s topic
• If you don’t want to speak, you can submit questions on

index cards

• Questions should be questions and limited to 2 minutes
• Responses will be limited as well
• Everyone will have a chance to speak before anyone has a

second chance

• You may offer comments, but you will not necessarily get a

response (limited to 2 minutes)

Let’s Take A Break

Agenda

• School Board roles and responsibilities
• Historical perspective
• 5th Grade Transition Committee: goal, process &

recommendation

• Next steps
• Q&A