Fall 2021 Boundary Process: Gunston-Jefferson

Rationale | Proposal | Summary of Student Data | Process Timeline | Community Engagement

Status Update

• Dec 2 – School Board Action Item on Superintendent’s Proposal for Boundary Adjustments and Elementary Immersion Feeder for the 2022-23 School Year
  • Presentation
  • Meeting Recording (Presentation begins at 1:32:17)
• November 16 – School Board Information Item – Superintendent’s Proposal for Boundary Adjustments and Elementary Immersion Feeder Schools for the 2022-23 School Year
  • Presentation
  • Meeting Recording (Presentation begins at 3:19:18)
• November 3 – School Board Work Session to review the boundary proposals, immersion feeders, Q&A
  • Recording | Presentation
• October 20 – Virtual Community Meeting (SPANISH Only,No English)
  • Recording | Presentation
• October 19- Virtual Community Meeting
  • Recording | Presentation (See Oct. 16 presentation- same presentation)
• October 16- Virtual Community Meeting #1 (11:00-12:30)
  • Recording | Presentation
• October 15-
  • School Talk notification message to families in planning units (46140, 48150, 48280, 48281, 48290) proposed for reassignment from Gunston to Jefferson
    • Gr. 5  Notification – English | Spanish | Amharic | Arabic | Mongolian
    • Gr. 6-7 Notification – English | Spanish | Amharic | Arabic | Mongolian

• •  Intent form –  emailed to families in affected planning units from (apsboundaries@apsva.us). Please complete online through email link by October 31.
    • Gr. 5  Form – English | Spanish | Amharic | Arabic | Mongolian
    • Gr. 6-7 Form – English | Spanish | Amharic | Arabic | Mongolian

NOTE:

• • • If unable to complete the intent form online through the email link that was sent, other ways to complete include:
      • Download or obtain a paper copy of the form from the Bilingual Family Liaison or main office of your student’s school and then return completed form back to the main office OR
      • Send completed form OR photo of the completed form via email to apsboundaries@apsva.us 
      • If you need assistance completing this form, please email apsboundaries@apsva.us or contact the main office of your student’s school and ask to speak with the bilingual family liaison.

Rationale for Boundary Change

• Gunston is the only middle school where enrollment currently exceeds the permanent building capacity ​
• The proposed middle boundary adjustment aims to bring enrollment at Gunston to more manageable levels for 2022-23 by utilizing the available capacity at Jefferson​
• The proposed adjustments focus on planning units that were moved from Jefferson to Gunston in the 2017 middle school boundary process​
• The planning units proposed for reassignment does not turn any walkers into bus riders as they are outside of the walk zone for all the schools involved​

Sept. 30, 2021 – Enrollment vs. Permanent Capacity- Middle School

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Gunston to Jefferson Boundary Adjustment Proposal

Objectives:

• Move some planning units from Gunston to Jefferson to bring enrollment at Gunston to more manageable levels in 2022-23 by utilizing the available capacity at Jefferson​
• Return planning units that were moved from Jefferson to Gunston in the 2017 middle school boundary process
• Correct 2017 error – not accounting for option school seats at Gunston

Proposal:  ​

• Reassign 5 Planning Units  (46140, 48150, 48280, 48281, 48290) from Gunston to Jefferson​
• Communities Impacted: Arlington View and Columbia Heights​
• Applies as students enter middle school (grade 6 or new to APS)​ beginning in 2022-23​
• Current Gr. 6-7 Gunston students in affected planning units can remain at Gunston through completion of Gr. 8 but may attend Jefferson (newly assigned neighborhood school) beginning at the start of 2022-23​
• Planning units are not in the walk zone for either Gunston or Jefferson. Does not turn any walkers into bus riders and transportation is available to both schools ​
• Current Gr. 6-7 Gunston students who remain at Gunston will be provided APS transportation via Hub Stops​
• Students attending Jefferson will be eligible for a bus

Impact of boundary proposal on future processes

• Proposal does not fill Jefferson’s capacity and provides opportunities to add additional planning units if needed in the future​
• Reassigning planning units on the eastern edge of the county helps preserve flexibility and options in the next boundary process​
• If Gunston needs additional enrollment relief in the future, adjustments would be considered on the southwestern quadrant of Gunston’s current boundary, which is also outside Gunston’s walk zone​

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Summary of Student Data

• Data tables show summary of currently enrolled students in Gr. 3-5 who reside in a planning unit (46140, 48150, 48280, 48281, 48290) proposed for reassignment to Jefferson Middle School
  • Data Tables exclude students currently attending option schools
• The boundary proposal  applies to all incoming Grade 6 students (currently in Grade 5 in 2021-22) and all new and future incoming middle school students. ​

Data Sheet will be posted on Wednesday, October 20

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Boundary Process Timeline

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Community Engagement

Public Participation Goal – Consult*

• Obtain feedback on analysis, alternatives and/or decision​

Support Transitions​

• Staff will connect with families whose students will be reassigned to a different school in the proposals to ensure they understand the proposed changes and respond to have questions and concerns they have.
• Work with affected families to support them in transitions

*Source: sustainingcommunity.wordpress.com/2017/02/14/spectrum-of-public-participation

Virtual Community Meeting – Short presentation of proposal followed by Q&A

• The same information will be presented at each session​
• Simultaneous interpretation available in Spanish, Arabic, Amharic, and Mongolian​
• English not available at the Spanish Only sessions​
• Meetings will be recorded and posted on the Fall 2021 Boundary Process Engage page

Virtual Open Office Hours – Q&A session only

• Simultaneous interpretation will be available in Spanish​
• Meetings will be recorded and posted on the Fall 2021 Boundary Process Engage page

Outreach

• The community engagement schedule and links to the virtual community meetings and open office hours was communicated to families through multiple channels beginning on Sept. 30.​
• Families will be notified of the proposal on Oct. 15  and those in affected planning units who would be impacted in school year 2022-23 will receive additional communication​
• In addition, P&E will be working collaboratively with Bilingual Family Liaisons to conduct targeted outreach to the families in affected planning units