To:

Members, Board of Education

From:

Eric J. Becoats, Ed.D.
Sharon S. Ozment

Date:

June 10, 2008

RE:

Utilization of Laughlin Elementary School

The bond funds designated for the Summerfield project may impact 14 mobiles that are currently on that site and that will likely have to be moved off-site before construction can begin. We are recommending a utilization of Laughlin Elementary School that will provide alternative space for the students who will be affected by the 2008 bond construction project at Summerfield Elementary School and provide additional relief for this growing community.  The primary factors considered in making the recommendation are as follows:

• minimizing the number of times that students must move between school sites;
• having the flexibility to begin work at Summerfield as soon as plans and permits are finalized;
• growing projections for student enrollment in Summerfield and schools in the immediate area.

At the present time, construction at Summerfield ES is estimated to begin during the 2009-10 school year or sooner, if possible. Given that, we recommend the following:

• In 2008-09, house kindergarten students at Laughlin and students in grades 1-5 at Summerfield. Assign the Summerfield assistant principal to Laughlin.
• In 2009-10, house rising first graders and incoming kindergartners at Laughlin and students in grades 2-5 at Summerfield.
• Retain the K-1 configuration at Laughlin and the 2-5 configuration at Summerfield at least during the construction period for the Summerfield project.

Depending upon the final design for Summerfield, space constraints and the grade make-up of Summerfield students in 2009-10, we may also have to move grades beyond kindergarten and first to Laughlin in order to be able to remove all 14 mobiles from the Summerfield site.  Staff has already begun to coordinate with the principal and staff at Summerfield to make any necessary preparations for this transition and we will continue to work closely with the school and the community.  We also plan to use Laughlin as a summer school site in July 2008.

RECOMMENDATION: The administration recommends the continued use of Laughlin Elementary School as outlined above.