Save Our School Information
Media: Please send any media requests to our campus liaison, Amy Brand, 512.917.8356 or our spokesperson, Jason Sabo, 512.450.2125 (Voice and Text) @texassabo
STATEMENT BY THE BARTON HILLS PTA
REGARDING THE 10-YEAR FACILITIES MASTER PLAN AND
ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS PROCESS
April 28, 2011
The Barton Hills Elementary PTA acknowledges the District’s need for a comprehensive Facilities Master Plan, and understands that the Trustees have charged Dr. Carstarphen with completing a 10-Year Facilities Master Plan. We support the District in the creation of a comprehensive plan, within the following parameters:
· That the Superintendent and Trustees include, at the earliest stage, school communities in conversation about changes in policy or campus status through notification and communication with campus PTA Boards and Campus Advisory Councils.
· That qualitative and quantitative criteria at each campus are considered in any decisions, including the following:
o Academic achievement
o Number of high needs students served by the school
o Potential for innovative programs at the school
o Comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of all proposed changes
· That input from schools and communities, including the Minority Report of the Facilities Master Plan Task Force, is considered and incorporated in the Administrative Recommendation and 10-Year Facilities Master Plan process. Administrative Recommendations that differ substantially from school and community recommendations should be substantiated with concrete data and an articulate rationale.
· That any final plan has been completed with support from the City of Austin and is in line with the city’s long-term planning goals.
· That any Administrative Recommendations/10-Year Facilities Master Plan that emerges from this process is in full accordance with the District’s own 5 –year Strategic Plan.
The Barton Hills Elementary PTA shares and supports the mission, vision, core values and strategies set forth by AISD. We look forward to working with the District to create solutions that support the long-term viability and success of our campus and are supportive of the entire academic community served by Austin’s public schools.
STATEMENT BY OUR PTA OPPOSING THE PROPOSAL TO CLOSE BARTON HILLS ELEMENTARY (January 18, 2011):
The Barton Hills Elementary PTA opposes the recommendation of the Facility Master Plan Task Force to close Barton Hills Elementary. We further urge the AISD Board of Trustees to reject the Task Force’s recommendation for the following reasons:
- Barton Hills has been rated an exemplary school by the state for each of the past two years, and has never been rated low performing.
- The Task Force’s population projections are not consistent with recent growth patterns, nor do they accurately reflect our current enrollment.
- Smaller neighborhood schools are more successful because they enable parent and community involvement.
- The Task Force recommendations to close neighborhood schools are not aligned to the District’s core values and commitment to fostering academic excellence and ensuring the safety and health of our children. The Task Force recommendations further contradict the District and the City of Austin’s commitment to protecting urban schools.
- Closing Barton Hills will not produce the savings claimed by the Task Force and is likely to cost the District money in the long run.
- Temporary measures that can be undone with minimal cost and disruption are preferable to permanent ones.
No Confidence Letter and Signature, March 28, 2011
Friends of BHE’s Formal Response to Facilities Master Plan – March25
Coalition Meeting with Dr. Carstarphen Feb 9, 2011
January 31st Assembly Meeting
January 24th Assembly Meeting
January 18th Assembly Meeting
Task Force Presentation from January 10, 2011
Task Force’s Draft Recommendations
Minutes from the January 11 meeting with Task Force Members at Barton Hills
Save Our School Minutes from January 10, 2011
At is meeting on January 18, St. Mark’s Vestry voiced its unanimous opposition to closing either of our neighborhood elementary schools. For more information and ongoing developments on proposed school closures go to: http://saveaustinschools.com.
