The CSD school board is scheduled to vote on the much-discussed reconfiguration issue next Tuesday, June 9th.

In her note to the board motioning to approve Option 13, superintendent Dr. Phyllis Edwards references the general support that renovating 5th Ave has among the reconfiguration committee, teachers and parents that spoke at the listening sessions.  She also states…

I estimate that if you make the decision in June, it will still take two years until the building is ready. In the meantime, we will add portables as we see fit. In the following school year, we may have to explore other temporary options.

By doing a lease purchase for $10 million dollars, Fifth Avenue can be renovated and the remaining dollars spent on renovating RMS, which sorely needs attention.

Barring some unforeseen challenge or circumstance, the vote next Tuesday (6:30p @ Westchester) should be the final say in this matter.

You can read the Superintendent’s full letter after the jump… Read the rest of this entry »

CSD Mom reports over on her reconfiguration blog that the school board voted last night to table the reconfiguration issue for 30 days, but gave strong indications that they would follow the superintendent’s recommendation of Option #13 (renovate 5th Ave).

Not to jump ahead too quickly, but I wonder how reverting Glennwood back to an elementary school will affect districting.

The AJC’s Kristen Torres provides a nice summary of the CSD reconfiguration issue in today’s paper in preparation of Tuesday’s Board Meeting when the Superintendent will give her recommendation on the issue.

Of particular note: Torres has a quote from board member Julie Rhame saying that though the board could technically vote on the issue Tuesday, it probably won’t happen.

This is what its all about folks.  Good, honest discussion can change minds.

First on DM: In a lengthy and detailed letter to the school board (click on Action Item IX.d), Superintendent Dr. Phyllis Edwards lays out her final recommendation regarding the school system’s reconfiguration. (Thanks to CSD Mom for the tip!)

After thanking various parties for all their hard work, Edwards admits that comments presented during the listening sessions changed her position on the issue and she has decided to go along with the reconfiguration committee and recommend Option #13 (renovate 5th Ave Elementary to serve as 4/5) as the best solution to the school system’s capacity issues.

Here’s the must-read paragraph…

I have reviewed the results of the committee. I have reviewed the survey results from the teachers. I am recommending two options. My top recommendation is that we completely renovate or rebuild Fifth Avenue School as the new home for the 4/5 Academy. I believe that this is a beautiful site in a neighborhood that has waited patiently for us to do something with this property. I feel that thinking long-term, CSD will need the additional school building renovated and in good condition-especially if annexation moves forward. The city is four square miles. This is not far for students to attend school and bussing will be available. It will require capital outlay but we can also get some rather good pricing in this econony. We have run the numbers and borrowing 10- 15 million (which would allow us to rebuild Fifth Avenue, as well as renovate Renfroe Middle School) would be at a cost of $350,000-$600,000 estimated annually. Even if we approve this plan at this board meeting, it will take perhaps the better part of two years to design and construct. [emphasis added] It would be my recommendation that we move ahead with our planning process in terms of selecting a firm and getting the architectural and zoning work done as quickly as possible. In the future, I would recommend that the next SPLOST (IV) be dedicated in part to paying off the GO Bond and the new borrow. If successful, which I have no reason to think it would not be, the voters/taxpayers would not see increases in their taxes. We have done a good job of keeping the millage down, even this year in tough economic times. I cannot guarantee that this will always be the case but I do not see the millage rising beyond 1 mill in the 2010-2011.

She goes on to recommend the Renfroe renovation as a backup option and states clearly that she does not support any of the other 11 options, including waiting a year or two.

Also of interest in this letter:  Edwards details future plans for Westchester that seems to guarantee that the school administration offices would have to move to a new facility.

Is 5th Ave the Answer? (photo circa 1936 - Prior to Addition)

CSD Mom sends along this announcement from the school system…

During the week of March 9-13th the City Schools of Decatur’s Reconfiguration Committee is hosting an Adult Showcase of their work. Come to peruse posters for each option offering the following: financial and demographic data, instructional implications, strengths and challenges. The showcases will be held from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm at the Central Office at Westchester (758 Scott Blvd., Decatur 30030). The Adult Showcase may be borrowed by individual schools for other sessions. Stay tuned to school newsletters and electronic communications for more information.

Additionally, there will be a Board informational session followed by a listening session at Renfroe Middle School (220 W. College Ave., 30030) on March 17th at 6:30 pm and on March 25th at 6:30 pm. The topic of these sessions is reconfiguration.

Or if you don’t have time to view the posters in person, you can also view them in this PDF right now!

I’ve been digging into this data for the last couple weeks, and I’ve gotta say that if you think that this is a cut and dry decision, you’re sorely mistaken.  Lots of options (13 in fact) each with its own pros and cons.  These posters try to sum up the arguments for each.

A quick look at the “posters” seems to show that Option 13 (make Fifth Avenue the 4/5 Academy & add a few classrooms to Winnona and Glennwood) has the fewest “cons” of all the stated options, though “highest capital costs” at over $9 million is a pretty big negative.   I wonder if this relatively new option is now the new favorite amongst the reconfiguration committee.

The AJC’s report from the last night’s Board of Education meeting is limited to detailing the $2 million in budget cuts – which were approved – but not a peep regarding reconfiguration.  And since my entire staff decided that a healthy round of beer pong would be more fun than a board of ed meeting, I must ask you, not-so-gentle readers, to fill us in on what was discussed and voted on last night.  And of course, next steps.

Thanks in advance!