16 Dec 2005
A return to neighborhood school concept, reduction in overcrowding among benefits
DALLAS—Changes in school attendance zones are to be expected as the Dallas Independent School District gets ready to open 12 new schools, including one high school, one middle school and 10 elementary schools, in the 2006-07 school year.
The changes to attendance zones proposed last year and up for trustee vote in January are part of the district's long-range plan to address student population changes and overcrowding by opening 21 new schools and expanding existing schools as promised under the 2002 bond program. Dallas voters overwhelmingly approved a $1.37 billion bond program in February 2002.
"With the construction of the new schools, feeder patterns will be realigned to allow the district to return to contiguous neighborhood schools," said Cecilia Oakeley, associate superintendent—Evaluation and Accountability. "Contiguous attendance zones will result in most students attending schools closer to home. The realignment of feeder patterns means that students from neighborhood elementary schools will feed into the same middle school and then high school."
District staff met with parents at area-wide Parent Teacher Association meetings in the fall to remind the community of the attendance zone changes and present the proposed plan. Various members of the DISD Board of Trustees also have hosted community meetings in their neighborhoods to explain the changes. A special Web site, information bulletins and other efforts have been undertaken by the district to ensure community awareness of the planned activities
Among other changes for the 2006-2007 school year, most middle schools, middle learning centers, and academies will include grades six through eight. This change, in line with most other districts in Texas, will allow middle schools to develop stronger academic and extracurricular programs for their students. An additional bond issue in the next couple of years will be needed in order to provide the necessary space for all middle schools in the district to educate students in grades six through eight. District administrators believe that having students attend middle school for three years allows more time to establish relationships between students and teachers and parents and schools.
"As the district continues to open the remaining schools to be built with funds from the 2002 bond program, additional feeder pattern and attendance zone changes will be needed," said Oakeley. "We will continue to be diligent about notifying the community and involving them in them in the decision-making process."
A transition plan is being developed to make certain that all schools and classrooms are staffed and ready for learning when school opens next fall. The plan will address a number of issues including developing the three-year middle school program and resolving such issues as staffing at each school, school readiness and student transportation.
In addition to the attendance zone changes, the district is creating a multi-language international school program. This program will be piloted in two schools during the 2006-2007 school year. The district plans to add two international language programs a year until each of the district's six areas has a program.
For more information about boundary changes, visit the district's Web site at www.dallasisd.org/attzones.