Pathway to Excellence & Equity September 25, 2007

Pathway to Excellence & Pathway to Excellence & EquityEquity

September 25, 2007

FACTSFACTS

• AUSD is a community asset

• AUSD schools provide a good education to our students

• AUSD community consistently supports the schools

• AUSD is committed to ensuring educational excellence by providing high-quality educational programs

• AUSD historically has:

Low per-student funding from state

A pattern of declining enrollment

An imbalance in enrollment from school to school across the island

Smaller than average school sizes have resulted in funding constraints

MORE FACTS…MORE FACTS…

CHALLENGESCHALLENGES

• State and federal funding models are insufficient and even sometimes unpredictable on a year-to-year basis

• Demand for competitive compensation which will also address rising health benefit costs

• The mandate to close the achieve-ment gap

CHALLENGESCHALLENGES

• Changing demographics impacting elementary enrollment & facilities = the need to examine boundaries and educational program options

• Grades 6-12 imbalance in enrollment across the district, which inhibits our ability to provide consistent courses of study, programs & services

HOW?HOW?Community & Staff Community & Staff InvolvementInvolvement1. Establish Pathway to

Excellence and Equity Task Force

The Task Force charge and focus will be:

• Changing demographics impacting elementary enrollment & facilities = the need to examine boundaries & educational program options

•Grades 6-12 imbalance in enrollment across the district, which inhibits our ability to provide consistent courses of study, programs & services

Members of the Task Force will be divided into two sub groups; one focused on elementary (k-5) and the other on secondary (6-12). Members will include district and site staff.

HOW?HOW?Community & Staff Community & Staff InvolvementInvolvementTask Force Cont’d

2. Establish a community Sounding Board

This group’s purpose is to provide the Superintendent with direct access to community members who can provide vital input, feedback and comments on options developed by the Pathway to Excellence & Equity Task Force.

HOW?HOW?Community & Staff Community & Staff InvolvementInvolvement

Members of the Sounding Board will be volunteers from our community who represent the cultural, racial, and economic diversity of our schools as well as community perspectives such as business and community-based organizations.


3. Utilize existing district organizational structures

The purpose is to involve AUSD employees, parents and the community to provide feedback on options generated by the Task Force.

Employee feedback and input sources:

• Superintendent’s Council

• Employee Representative Groups


• Regular meetings of counselors, extended cabinet, principals and Board of Education

• Board workshops


Parent and community feedback and input sources:• PTA Council, School Site Council

• District English Learners Advisory Committee (DELAC)

• Alameda Education Foundation (AEF)

• Alamedans for Better Schools


4. Convene district-wide community meetings to share options and obtain input

• Issues and Options – both hard copies and electronic publications on www.alameda.k12.ca.us

• School newsletters

• Superintendent’s newsletter updates

5. Other communication options


http://www.alameda.k12.ca.us/

Alameda Unified School DistrictAlameda Unified School DistrictPathway to Excellence & EquityPathway to Excellence & EquityTimeline 2007/2008Timeline 2007/2008Date Action Responsibility

Sep 25, 2007 BOE presentation: Superintendent’s State of the District Focus on Educational Excellence, Boundaries and Facilities

Superintendent

Oct 5, 2007 Identify members of Pathway to Excellence Task Force

Superintendent

Oct 2007 to June 2008

Pathway to Excellence Task Force researches and develops options for consideration

Executive Cabinet

Date Action Responsibility

Sep 26 to Oct 5, 2007

Invite and identify community members to participate in Sounding Board

Superintendent

Oct 2007 to

June 2008 Regular meeting schedules of existing district

leadership structure

Superintendent, Executive Cabinet, Employee Group Leadership

Oct 2007 Neighborhood schools community meetings focus: Enrollment

Superintendent, Student Affairs and Compliance Officer

Date Action Responsibility

Nov 2007 to

June 2008 Agenda item on the second meeting of each month to provide updates on Taskforce and other activities

Superintendent, Taskforce members and Executive Cabinet

Nov to Dec 2007

Community meetings to present preliminary options

Executive Cabinet and Student Affairs and Compliance Officer

Jan 2008 and Feb 2008

Presentations to the Board of Education of Superintendent’s recommendations and community meetings

Superintendent

Mar 2008 to Aug 2008

Work on implementation of

adopted recommendations Executive Cabinet and assigned staff

Documents

Pathway to Excellence & Equity September 25, 2007