Sunday, March 4, 2007

McKinney ISD looks at elementary school redistribution

By Pegasus News wire

McKinney ISD will open two new elementary schools for the 2007-2008 school year. The District’s demographer continues to project growth at the rate of 1,500 or more students per year, necessitating continued construction at every level. However, the most significant growth continues to occur at the elementary level. As a result, Naomi Press Elementary School and McGowen Elementary School (see locations below) are being constructed in order to relieve overcrowding at many elementary campuses.

Jesse McGowen Elementary School

4300 Columbus Drive

McKinney, TX 75070

McGowen Elementary School will be located off of Columbus Drive, between Hardin Blvd. and Lake Forest Drive, in the Avalon neighborhood.

Naomi Press Elementary School

4101 Shawnee Drive

McKinney, TX 75071

Naomi Press Elementary School will be located just north of Bloomdale Drive, east of 75, and west of Highway 5.

Members of the McKinney ISD Support Services Department, administrators, and the District’s demographer spent the past several months reviewing data in order to develop options for the redistribution of elementary students. In particular, current capacity and enrollment at campuses was taken into consideration, as well as future growth.

While the District recognized a need to relieve overcrowding at many schools, priority had to be placed on the campuses faced with the most severe capacity concerns. Several options were presented to the McKinney ISD Board of Trustees. After obtaining feedback and making appropriate changes a final proposal was presented to the Board. The Board approved the proposed map to be presented to the community at a public meeting on March 19 at Faubion Middle School.

Public Meeting

March 19, 2007

Faubion Middle School Auditorium

7 p.m.

Following the public meeting, all feedback will be taken into consideration regarding the proposal. Any necessary changes will be considered prior to a presentation to the Board of Trustees on March 20. The Board of Trustees is expected to consider final approval of a proposal on March 26 at the regular monthly board meeting. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. and will be held in the board room at the McKinney ISD Administration Building, #1 Duvall Street, McKinney, Texas 75069.

Information regarding the redistribution of students will also be sent home with students at elementary schools impacted by the new zones.

What schools will receive relief from overcrowding as a result of the redistribution of students?

Jesse McGowen Elementary School will provide relief to Bennett Elementary School, McNeil Elementary School and Reuben Johnson Elementary School. Walker Elementary School will also be relieved under the proposed plan.

Naomi Press Elementary School will provide relief to Malvern Elementary School, Minshew Elementary School, Vega Elementary School, and Wilmeth Elementary School.

Will 5th graders have an option to stay at their current school under the proposed plan?

5th grade students that are being zoned to a new school (Press or McGowen) will be required to attend the new school. 5th grade students being rezoned to an existing McKinney ISD campus (not Press or McGowen) will be given the option to stay at their existing campus, but parents will be responsible for student transportation to and from school. Many districts follow this philosophy, as it is often more difficult for a 5th grade student to acclimate to an existing school, versus a campus where all of the students are new to the environment.

At the public meeting the District will present the details of the proposed redistribution of students and will provide details on the methodology utilized to derive the proposal. In addition, parents and the community will be asked to provide feedback on the proposed new elementary school zones.

Please take time to review the maps posted below. In addition, feel free to contact the McKinney ISD Communications Office with any questions related to the current or proposed school zones.

Source: McKinney ISD

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