Heritage HS Auditorium 10-7-13
Notes taken by Susan Baker 248-921-6234
These are not complete but what I felt was important enough to write down and retain. If you have questions please ask. Do not be a part of the rumor mill. When in doubt seek the truth. Please and thank you.
Primary presenters were Dr. Jeremy Lyon FISD Superintendent and Richard WIlkinson FISD Deputy Superintendent
The meeting started out with lots of arts and charts and visuals of the current school zones by level (Elementary, Middle and High School)
The charts showed growth rates historically and projections as well as how we compared to other districts in the nation. Head and shoulders above everyone to summarize. Also talked about the Dallas Morning News Article referencing that 8 of the 10 best neighborhoods in the greater DFW area are in Frisco.
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/headlines/20130401-10-best-neighborhoods-for-schools-in-dallas-fort-worth.ece?nclick_check=1
Frisco is 68% built out or planned so there is 32% left.
3 land owners own 60% of the unplanned area
Current enrollment sits around 46,000 and should top out between 70,000-80,000
I asked the question about building too much too quickly then seeing unused schools when the population ages and doesn't move. The community may be desirable enough that people just want to linger here.
Dr. Lyon agreed that it is certainly a concern but felt like we had two things in our favor that is the perceived expectation of "replacement families" and the fact that as a community Frisco is not reliant on an one industry. With the diversity of the economic contributors the financials of the community should remain strong for many years to come.
Mr. Wilkinson echoed the sentiments and also mentioned that our current school model is one that has the potential to be used for something other than a school. Centers for the Chronologically Gifted may be need as the population ages and our schools could be transformed into something like that.
Furthermore there may be needs to expend early childhood programs and our current schools could easily meet this type of need.
They then moved on sharing some specific information about the next 2 HSs
Independence HS
Opens August 2014
9th, 10th and 11th grades
4A Classification with varsity sports immediately
Zoning Process looks like this...
October 2013 School Board Meeting - First Reading of the proposal. THis will be the first opportunity the public and the school board has to see the proposal that is done by an outside demography group. This initial draft proposal is presented and not discussed.
November 2013 School Board Meeting - Second Reading of the proposal and structured opportunity for public input.
December 2013 School Board Meeting - Decision made by the school board and is firm and fast.
Reedy HS
Opens August 2015
9th and 10the grades
4A No Varsity sports
Zoning Process looks like this...
October 2014 School Board Meeting - Frist Reading
November 2014 School Board Meeting - Second Reading
December 2014 School Board Meeting - Decision
and elementary schools...
4 new elementary schools
Newman, Scott, McSpedden, #37
Zoning Process looks like....
November 2013 School Board Meeting - First Reading
December 2013 School Board Meeting - Second Reading and community input
January 2014 School Board Meeting - Decision
The opening of these 4 schools could impact 12-15 current zones. The ripples will be wide.
There is a committee in place working on the May 2014 Bond Program
There are looking to fund
? Elem Schools
? Middles Schools
? High Schools
CTE Expansion
Land requisition
Stadium (Cross this one out!)
Details will be released in the spring on this plan.
When you consider that in 1998 the ISD only had 7 schools and now has 56 you can feel assured that they are getting pretty good at the rezoning process. It is never easy and there will be people who are dissatisfied.
There has been a solid historic record of NOT allowing exceptions and grandfathering of any kind once lines are drawn (I think they mean specifically with HS as we all know that if an elementary isn't 90% full that parents can opt in to said school)
The goals of the ISD include continuity of great quality throughout the district so that as kids get moved, and kids will be moved, that they are not losing out on anything that could be perceived as a building specific benefit.
The BEST sources of ACCURATE information are
www.friscoisd.org and the FISD Communications Dept
469-633-6060
Other topics brought up by parents included but were not limited to...
1. Advocacy for support for One Voice by the district
2. Professional Development across and among schools
3. Methods used to evaluate teachers
4. Concern for students who have had many siblings graduate from a particular school who may be shifted due to new lines and how unfair that is to the student and family who has invested in their school for so many years.
5. Apathy for the forum itself - I would estimate that if there were 20 FISD staff and school board members there were 15 residents. I was sitting in front though so I may have estimated low. There was at least one reported from the Dallas News there reporting.
6. What components/priorities will be considered when drawing the new zones? Having never been through a rezoning I was curious.
I mentioned numbers of students, staff, busing, infrastructure etc and they responded yes to all of those as well as the most prominent need to reduce over crowding in the three HSs on this side of town.
Answers to the above questions were brief and often included directives to the individuals asking to specific staff members or protocols to get specific answers.
Overall the tone of the forum was positive. Dr. Lyon thought that the fact that there were so few people in attendance was a testament to the fact that the district is in good shape right now. If more people had been there it would have been to air their grievances. If they weren't there perhaps the number of, or types of, issues are low and minor.
Everyone is welcome to be involved in the process of the rezoning through the public comment time with the school board and of course through appropriate channels such as email and rational personal discussions. The growing pains that we face are unique but ultimately our children are being given amazing opportunities at every facility in our district and with every FISD staffer they encounter. The kids will be okay. The parents... well, we're another story.
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