Thank you to everyone who completed the parent survey and shared thoughts or suggestions on a plan being considered to adjust attendance zones for Bear Creek Elementary and Grapevine Elementary to alleviate crowding at BCES.

We understand that adjusting attendance zones is difficult and it is not the preference of district leaders to move students, as we understand the value of friendships and family connections to each of our schools. However, in situations of significant overcrowding, adjusting attendance zones often is the most feasible and realistic option for both short- and long-term relief. In the case of BCES, student enrollment has been at capacity for several years already. While demographic projections show that the school’s enrollment will begin to decrease next year and over the next two to three years due to outgoing larger grade levels, it is not enough to achieve the district’s goal to lower BCES’ enrollment to approximately 700 students.

 

The following information is provided in response to questions or comments from parents on this matter. Listed below are the most frequently asked questions. Topics are listed in random order.

 

Many factors and data have been considered when determining where to adjust the attendance zones. These include the number of students in each geographical area, campus enrollment trends and projections, proximity to GES, building capacities, possible staffing adjustments, the impact on families in these school communities, and parent feedback. With assistance from the district demographer, campus principals and district administrators evaluated all these factors in drafting new attendance zone lines that transfer students from BCES to GES to relieve overcrowding at BCES while also managing student enrollment at GES.

 

No. All students attending either Bear Creek or Grapevine Elementary are zoned to attend Heritage Middle School and Colleyville Heritage High School and that would not change under the proposed plan. Additionally, no plans have been discussed to adjust attendance zones at the middle or high school level.

 

While district leaders continually monitor enrollment and school capacities, no other attendance zone adjustments are being planned for the coming year.

 

The apartments named Station 2800 at Glade Parks are part of GCISD and are zoned under the current and the proposed attendance zones to attend Heritage Elementary, Colleyville Middle and Colleyville Heritage High School.

 

The number of economically disadvantaged students in the proposed zone is less than 10 and will have no significant impact on GES.

	BCES	GES
Current	183	42
Projected	174	51
Difference	-9	+9

Not entirely. While the addition at BCES from the 2011 Bond Program did provide much-needed classroom space, the district was not able to address the available space and functionality of common areas such as the cafeteria, gym, music room, hallways, etc., that remain overcrowded with current enrollment. The bond program added four traditional classrooms, two partitioned classrooms and additional restrooms between the third- and fourth-grade halls. Student projections made in 2009-2010 showed the current “enrollment bubble” of large class sizes at BCES and also showed BCES’ enrollment would begin to decrease when smaller grades replace the larger grades. For example, the current kindergarten at BCES has 113 and first grade has 126 while fourth and fifth grades have 145 and 131 respectively. This alone can reduce BCES’ enrollment by 37 students. The Bond Planning Committee believed that the best financial course of action was to address classrooms and restrooms and otherwise wait on the enrollment “bubble” to move through the campus.

 

The Bond Planning Committee (which included parents, citizens and staff members) reviewed demographic data and costs of buying land and building a new school. Based on a predicted loss of enrollment at BCES and GES and all other schools in GCISD, the BPC determined that it was not feasible or necessary to build another elementary school to handle a temporary enrollment bubble. GES was projected to have capacity. Therefore, the BPC opted to add classrooms to BCES to handle core instruction. This also allowed students to continue attending a neighborhood school that was less than two miles from their home.

 

No, your home would not be permanently re-zoned. The voluntary transfer applies only to you while you live at the address listed. Only homes in the proposed area to be moved will be permanently re-zoned to GES. BCES families who are accepted for the voluntary transfer to GES will remain at GES until they move to the middle school or move from the home.

 

The district will make every effort to keep families together at the same school.

 

In most cases. In addition to the standard academic programs, all GCISD elementary schools offer a “specials” rotation that provides a full year of physical education and music as well as a nine-week rotation of art and Spanish. Below is a comparison of additional programs and extra-curricular activities offered at BCES and GES.

Can we visit GES before deciding if we want to apply for a voluntary transfer?
Families considering voluntary transfer may contact GES Principal Kim Blackburn individually about touring Grapevine Elementary. Ms. Blackburn will make every effort to accommodate requests as she is able, but may not be able to accommodate large groups or immediate requests. GES currently is not planning a formal meeting for BCES parents considering this option. Such a meeting would be held after the Board of Trustees approves the attendance zone adjustment.

 

Can we choose another elementary school besides GES for voluntary transfer?
The district’s intra-district transfer policy, FDB(LOCAL), allows parents to submit applications annually for transfer to any school where there is capacity for additional students. Transfers must meet certain criteria to be approved. Heritage Elementary, the next closest elementary school to BCES besides GES, does not have capacity to accept transfers at this time. However, O.C. Taylor Elementary School currently has capacity to accept additional students.

 

How do I apply for a transfer to GES?
If the Board of Trustees approves a recommendation that includes voluntary transfers, information about the process for applying, the timeline and the application forms would be available online and at BCES by March 1.

 

If I transfer to GES and don’t like it, can I return to BCES?
Yes. District policy allows transfer students to return to their home campus at the end of the semester.

 

What is the process for finalizing a decision and how will parents be informed of the decision?
Your district leaders and campus Principals have conducted a thorough review and consideration of the responses submitted through the parent survey, as well as individual questions/comments we have received from parents. Based on this feedback, a review of demographic projections and the need to alleviate crowding at BCES, a recommendation for an attendance zone adjustment will be presented to the Board of Trustees for action on February 25. This recommendation will be posted on the Board’s agenda at least 72 hours prior to the meeting, which will be before 7 p.m. on Friday, February 22. Parents also are receiving information from their Principal regarding the plan being recommended to the Board. If the Board approves the plan, the district will post a news release on the district website and both school websites, and parents in the area to be re-zoned also will receive an invitation to a welcome event at GES.

Will BCES parents have visibility of the recommendation prior to it being presented to the Board?
Yes. The recommendation will be posted on the Board’s agenda at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Parents also are receiving information from their Principal regarding the plan being recommended to the Board. Anyone wishing to speak at a Board meeting should visit the Frequently Asked Questions link on the Board of Trustees webpage for details about Open Forum procedures.