The overcrowded classrooms in Abilene’s elementary schools have prompted an AISD boundary rezoning proposal to better benefit and educate students.
Several years of climbing student enrollment numbers have called for a change in the classroom setup to balance Abilene elementary schools’ totals, said Phillip Ashby, AISD Director of Communications.
“This boundary update proposal is designed to address that issue at a few campuses – shifting students from schools that are at capacity or near capacity to schools with consisting facilities that are equipped to handle more students,” Ashby said.
The update would affect five of Abilene’s 15 district elementary schools: Bassetti Elementary, Dyess Elementary, Jackson Elementary, Reagan Elementary and Ward Elementary. From these schools, the motion would potentially impact an estimated 500 students.
While this proposed update shifts some students from one campus to another, none are being moved farther from a school and, in most cases, the update will bring them closer to a campus. Since those changes will not impact bus transportation, there is little overall financial impact. This proposal, Ashby said, will have no effect on where students are currently zoned to attend middle or high school.
As for the Abilene community, the AISD board hosted four public hearings over the month of January at the four campuses that would receive students if the proposal were to be passed. These meetings, Ashby said, were designed to hear feedback on the proposed changes, answer questions, as well as allow parents to tour the schools and talk to faculty and staff.
“Several members of the board of trustees, who ultimately will make this decision, attended the sessions and heard first-hand some of the concerns expressed by parents who are affected by the boundary update.”
An article by Big Country Homepage quotes Bowie Elementary principal, Keri Thornburg on the proposal focal point.
“We’re trying to help the parents understand that smaller campuses and campuses that can hold students to optimum capacity is really a benefit for every student,” Thornburg said.
The plan’s approval would see overcrowding at Jackson Elementary eased, increased enrollment at Dyess and Reagan and more available student space at Ward Elementary, where construction of a new apartment complex directly across the street predicts an increase population in its attendance zone beginning next year, Ashby said.
Feb. 11, the school board plans to meet at 5:30 p.m. in the One AISD Center for a final summary of the community feedback before the Board of Trustees considers the elementary update. If approved, the update will go into effect for the 2013-14 school year.
“The ultimate purpose of the boundary update is to benefit students who will be served more efficiently if campus enrollments properly match facilities,” Ashby said. “Our district philosophy is to maintain a neighborhood concept at the elementary level.”
