Educational Specifications Visioning StudySCHOOL CITY OF HAMMOND

Dr. James Halik, President Compass Keynote, LLC

Dr. Walter J. Watkins, Superintendent

December 11, 2018

Purpose

• The primary focus of this study committee was to develop “options” for the Board of School Trustees to consider as they search for ways to provide a quality education while reducing cost. It should be noted that the “options” in this Executive Summary are not to be considered as recommendations, but rather ideas for consideration that have been developed from studying a plethora of information (see the Appendices in full report).

Study Committee Members

Cal Bellamy Ken Benich Theo BooneBridget Bodefield Deanna Breclaw James BurggrafJuanita Camacho Manual Candeleria Charles CookCatherine Danko Greg Easton Esther GoodesBarb Gustin Rina Horgan Carlotta Blake-KingLynn Lange Connie Manous Teri MayerikScott Miller Kyle Miller Rocharda M Morris Tom Neff Heather Paskis Alesia Pritchett Adam Richardson Kris Rivera Erica RobinsonTony Salinas Ryan Sosnowski Dan SpitaleLori Owens-Stranc Africa Tarver Cynthia VallejoStephanie Vargas Janet Venecz David Verta

Financial reports reveal that revenue for the schools is declining while the expenses continue to increase. The Education Fund is the primary source of money for staff salaries and benefits. This money for this fund is distributed to the schools from the State based on the annual number of students enrolled in the school district. Enrollment data the past several years reveals that this school district has been losing students, which has compounded the problem historically (see Enrollment Report in full report).

The top graph indicates enrollment changes due to Hammond resident decline and Open Enrollment closure.

The bottom graph indicates enrollment changes due to Hammond resident decline only.

Disclaimers

The committee was challenged to develop a data driven goal oriented “Action Plan” while keeping a focus on what is best for children and at the same time reduce spending in both the Education and Operation Funds. The “Core Values” that continued to evolve throughout this study process were:

1. Need for curriculum and program equality2. Need alternative educational opportunities 3. Need fewer school facilities4. Need for grade level reconfiguration5. Need for a communication plan 6. Need to study open enrollment 7. Need to rebrand the School City of Hammond

OPTIONS A-J

Option A

• Reduce facilities by 2021 when the new school opens.

• Keep two high schoolsMorton High SchoolNew MS/HS

OPTION B

• Reduce facilities by 2021 when the new school opens.

• Keep two high schools

Morton High School

New High School

• Keep two middle schools

Eggers

Gavit

• Open an Alternative School (2019)

Increase diplomas earned

Reduce suspensions and expulsions

OPTION C

• Reduce facilities by 2021 when the new school opens.

• Keep two high schoolsMorton High SchoolNew High School

• Keep two middle schoolsEggersGavit

• Close Miller Facility

OPTION D

• Reduce facilities by 2019.

• Close two elementary schools

Columbia

Lafayette

• Miller (move Miller to Scott and add administration services such as Title I, Instructional Technology)

OPTION E

• Reduce facilities beginning in 2019 - 2021• Keep two high schoolsMorton High School (east side of district) New High School (west side of district)

• Keep two middle schools (2020 – 2021) Eggers (grades 6-8) Gavit (grades 6-8)

• Close elementary schools Miller - 2019 (move Miller to Wallace and move Wallace

to Maywood) Columbia - 2019 (split between Lafayette and Irving)

OPTION F

• Reduce facilities beginning in 2019 - 2021

Keep Morton and New High School

Keep two middle schools and close Clark Middle/High School

Possibility of moving early college both high schools

OPTION G

Branding – School City of Hammond

• Hammond High School West (currently New School - possibly a STEM high school)

• Hammond High School East (currently Morton High School - possibly a Performing Arts high school)

• Hammond Middle School North (currently Eggers)

• Hammond Middle School South (currently Gavit)

OPTION H

Rebranding School City of Hammond – Develop a culture of shared decision-making and leadership

with systematic communication

• Create and hire a Director of Communications (possibly as early as January 2019)

• Establish a committee to work with the Director of Communications to develop questions, collect and analyze data, and initiate a communications system

OPTION I

• Reconfigure grade level alignment in 2019

• Consider realigning 6th grade if you close elementary schools in 2019 and go to two middle schools (grades 7-8) in 2021 when the new school is completed

• Consider waiting to realign grade levels until 2020 – 2021 school year when the new school is completed and study the newer enrollment data to see the impact of the rebranding action plan might have had over the previous 30 months

OPTION J

• Revitalize Educational Equality

• Offer more rigorous and relevant curriculum for all students at two high schools

• Have similar support services and support personnel at all schools

• Identify academic priorities and support with funding

PLANS, PROBLEMS, AND PREVENTIONS

Plan & Anticipated Problems

• The full committee report identifies potential items to include in plans to implement any options the board may choose. The full committee report also identifies potential problems and preventions.

Preventions

• Study enrollment data by school and grade level

• Utilize the Schmidt & Associates Reports

• Demolish closed buildings as soon as proper protocol has been followed

• Develop partnerships with the City of Hammond on vacant properties

• Communicate plans with students, parents, patrons, community leaders, and staff

The committee discussed many valuable thoughts for the Board of School Trustees to consider. As a result of this study committee ten (10) “options” were identified. To avoid any appearance of priority when listed in the Executive Summary these ten options were listed A-J rather than 1-10. It is important to remember that the purpose of this study committee was not to create recommendations for the Board.

Be reminded, only the Board of School Trustees can make the decision to accept and or reject any or all of the options presented to them by this committee. It is not an expectation of the committee that any option be adopted as presented but the committee believes in order for the district to be fiscally responsible something needs to change. Some of the options will take more planning and time than others. The committee believes the future is here and suggests that some actions needs to taken 2019-2021.

Common themes that dominated a lot of the discussion include:

• Equitable educational opportunities• Declining student enrollment• Too many schools in the district• Budgets are strained• The brand of the district is suffering

Next Steps…

Board to study the complete Educational Specifications Visioning Study and determine if any of the options presented are feasible for possible implementation