This page is designed to inform you of McKinley’s involvement in the proposed elementary school redistricting process. Visit the APS official website for the latest updates from the County.
This page is designed to inform you of McKinley’s involvement in the proposed elementary school redistricting process. Visit the APS official website for the latest updates from the County.
Dear McKinley Friends,
I'm writing you about the School Board vote taken earlier this evening. In case you missed it, the School Board voted 4-1 to approve the APS Recommendation on elementary school moves. (Reid Goldstein was the dissenting vote. I just ordered flowers to be delivered to him tomorrow from all of us at McK.)
The vote means that in September 2021, the Key Immersion program will move into the ATS building, and the ATS program will move into the McKinley building. About 60-70% of McKinley's student body will likely transfer to the new school at the Reed site, with the remainder of McK students going to one or more other nearby schools. We'll know more about that next fall, when APS staff presents new boundaries for all neighborhood elementary schools (the School Board will vote on these new boundaries in December.)
It was an emotional night and it still feels somewhat shocking, given that (in my opinion) the decision defies all logic. I am really sad for all those past and present who have known and loved McKinley as their neighborhood school. I am equally sad for Escuela Key and ATS, particularly for their low-income families who may not be able to move with those programs. I don't think this vote will be remembered as a high point in APS's narrative about championing diversity and inclusion.
I'm reaching out to ask two things of you:
That's more than enough for tonight. Thank you for all you've done. I believe we did all we could have, and we did it with intelligence and integrity. I am so proud of you all.
- Mary
A few quick ES Planning updates as you are readying for the holidays...
Please reach out if you have any questions or ideas. The best things you can do at this point are to:
I am working on getting other school communities engaged via their PTAs, because I think this process should concern *all* of us. Your efforts to engage your friends at other schools would be helpful here, too.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
More soon,
Mary
Two quick updates:
On Dec. 2, I (PTA President Mary Kadera) attended a meeting organized by APS for PTA Presidents as well as leaders of CCPTA and SEPTA. Video of the meeting is archived on the Engage website, but my CliffsNotes version follows here:
HEADLINES
SPECIFICS
Here are some of the questions that got asked and responses given (paraphrased):
Friends, this really worries me.
All along I've said that it's the PTA's job to ensure that 1) families have information about what's coming and how to engage; 2) APS decisions are based on good data; and 3) APS is using a process that is fair and transparent.
Based on everything we've seen over the past month, I believe it's vital for our PTA, and all others, to raise the alarm about the data and process. We'll talk more about this on Thursday night.
- Mary
Dates for Your Calendar:
Other Actions Taken:
Dear McKinley Families,
I just received a response from APS staff to the McK PTA's letter dated Nov 6. I am chaperoning at the Outdoor Lab and have not had a chance to review the response (the letter is 6 pp, plus a separate doc with responses to our Q's). I'll read it once I am not around kids with flaming hot dogs--but wanted to get it to you all straight away.
***Note in particular that APS intends to move forward with a Feb 6 vote on option school moves. Also, I asked specifically whether they would like to meet with us *before* we arrange a meeting with Barbara Kanninen, and it seems they would like for us to proceed directly to a mtg with Barbara.
In light of this, I am working on the following:
I will sign up to speak at the first School Board mtg after Thanksgiving to make the same request as in the joint letter, and I will encourage you to think about going to School Board office hours in Dec to ask the same--you will get a copy of this joint letter once it is finalized next week so that you can underscore the same concerns if you would like to.
More soon--
Mary
Community members can get information resources and participate in a questionnaire about two proposals that explore moving some elementary schools to address challenges that APS will face when beginning the process in Fall 2020 to develop new boundaries for Sept. 2021. The proposals may be potentially revised as APS gathers stakeholder ideas and suggestions through a community engagement process, underway now until School Board action on Feb. 6, 2020. The questionnaire is open through Nov. 24, 2019. Changes would take effect in Sept. 2021.
View the Nov. 6 School Board Work Session on the 2021-30 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which will address future school infrastructure needs.
This morning I sent a letter from the McKinley PTA to APS staff requesting a process change and asking some initial, foundational questions about the information and proposals APS has shared to date. The final version of this letter is available here and may be shared with others outside our community (note that representatives from the School Board, FAC, and CCPTA have already been cc'd).
To avoid any confusion about "what McKinley sent to APS" we've removed the draft version of the letter, but if you'd like to compare versions please email me and I'll be happy to help.
30 of you provided feedback after Monday's meeting that informed my letter revisions and I am incredibly grateful for your contributions--the result is stronger because of your involvement. I hope you see your feedback reflected in the final version--I worked hard to try and incorporate what I was hearing and still keep our communication clear and focused.
I will, of course, be sharing out what I hear, both in response to the letter and in response to our request for a meeting date with APS staff members sometime this month.
Thanks for all you do, Mary
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