The Cy-Fair ISD board of trustees will vote on new elementary school boundaries at tonight's meeting.[/caption]Update: To learn more about how the board voted on these decisions, read our follow-up story.
Cy-Fair ISD Board of Trustees met at a Jan. 19 board work session to discuss attendance boundary changes and changes to the instructional calendar for the 2017-18 academic year. The board will vote on the following decisions at tonight’s 6 p.m. meeting at the Cy-Fair ISD Instructional Support Center, 10300 Jones Road, Houston:
Attendance boundaries for Cypress Ranch High School and the new Bridgeland High School campus
With Bridgeland High School slated to open for the 2017-18 school year, many Cypress Ranch students and parents have expressed concern over impending boundary changes. Last month, the board presented four options to be voted on tonight.
At last week’s board work session, the administration recommended an option that would approve a set number of voluntary transfers for current Cypress Ranch freshmen to stay at their current campus. Transportation would not be provided to these transfer students through the district, and younger siblings of approved students would not be eligible for the transfer option.
“We want to make sure that students who have opportunities at [Cypress] Ranch have opportunities at Bridgeland,” Superintendent Mark Henry said. “We’re trying to look out for the best of the most students possible.”
Administration would determine the number of transfers and method for implementation based on the number of transfer requests and enrollment projections, which will be released at the beginning of February. Current projections show Cy Ranch with about 386 10th graders next year, and Bridgeland with about 542 10th graders.
Attendance boundaries for Hoover Elementary, Wells Elementary and Matzke Elementary’s replacement campus
Kristi Giron, director of general administration, presented recommendations regarding these three elementary campuses, which have not changed since December’s board meeting. The proposal would affect 3,329 elementary students (6 percent of the total elementary population) and about 40 middle school students, she said.
These recommendations were made based on the need to populate the new campuses and relieve overcrowding at other campuses. Find a detailed explanation of the proposed changes here.
“In not one instance did we move kids just to move kids,” Giron said. “I lived in the same house for 18 years, and my kids went to three elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools. Obviously, I’m a little biased, but they turned out fine.”
Elementary students will move from:
Pope to Wells
Andre to Hoover/Jowell
Postma to Andre
Postma to Walker
Rennell to Postma
Hancock to Matzke
Matzke to Hancock
Matzke to Millsap
Moore to Hamilton
Swenke to Ault
Keith to Ault
Ault to A. Robison
Keith to A. Robison
A. Robison to Sampson
A. Robison to Farney
Owens to Hairgrove
Danish to Bang
Lowery to Holmsley
Holmsley to Lowery
About 40 middle school students will move from:
Bleyl to Hamilton
While hundreds of parents have expressed concern over the attendance boundary changes, board members reminded the audience that when a child moves to a different campus, they will not receive a lesser education. Several trustees explained how they went through boundary changes themselves or have children dealing with the same situation.
“These changes, in a loving environment like all of our schools have, can actually…help these students to mature and learn how to deal with things later in life,” Trustee Christine Hartley said.
Elementary students affected by the changes who are entering fifth grade in the 2017-18 school year can stay at their current elementary schools if their parents provide transportation. Similarly, incoming eighth graders can stay at their current middle schools next year if their parents provide transportation. In either case, this opportunity will not be available for younger siblings.
Middle and high schools moving from six to four annual grading periods in 2017-18
In 2009, the board approved moving from six to four annual grading periods in all elementary schools across the district. Linda Macias, associate superintendent of curriculum, instruction and accountability, said this has been a positive move, and her department supports doing the same in middle and high schools. Secondary principals unanimously requested this change after roundtable discussions in December.
Elementary schools in 2017-18 will follow this grading period schedule: Aug. 28-Oct. 27, Oct. 30-Jan. 19, Jan. 22-March 29 and April 2-June 1. Middle and high schools would end the first semester just before winter break, and the third grading period would end just before spring break. The fourth grading period would be the longest to accommodate for STAAR, EOC, AP and final semester tests, officials said.
Teachers would continue to report grades every three weeks, but students would have more time to respond to each progress update before grades became final on report cards.
Approval of the 2017-18 instructional calendar
Macias also proposed a draft of next year’s academic calendar at the work session, which a committee of 36 educators compiled. In the last legislative session, House Bill 2610 mandated a school year should be made up of 75,600 minutes, rather than the previously mandated 180 days.
Each school day in CFISD lasts 435 minutes, surpassing the state’s minimum requirement of 420 minutes. Teachers are contracted to work 187 days. With this proposed calendar, graduation ceremonies would take place from May 30-June 2.
Aug. 14-18: Professional days
Aug. 21-25: Professional days
Aug. 28: First day of school
Sept. 4: Student/staff holiday
Oct. 9: Professional day
Nov. 20-24: Student/staff holiday
Dec. 22: Student/staff holiday
Dec. 25-29: Student/staff holiday
Jan. 1-4: Student/staff holiday:
Jan. 5: Professional day
Jan. 8: Classes resume
Jan. 15: Student/staff holiday
Feb. 19: Professional day/inclement weather day
March 12-16: Student/staff holiday
March 30: Student/staff holiday
May 28: Student/staff holiday
June 1: Last day of school
June 4: Professional day/inclement weather day
