Racial Balance Plan

Background

In June 2012, the Greenwich Public Schools were cited by the CT State Board of Education for Racial Imbalance in two schools - Hamilton Avenue School (HAS) and New Lebanon School (NLS). As defined by State Statute (10-226e), schools are cited for racial imbalance when the percentage of the minority population in a given school is 25% points more or less than the average for the comparable schools in the District.

After an extensive public process, and consideration of feedback from the Greenwich community, the State Board of Education approved the Racial Balance Plan presented by the Greenwich Board of Education on July 9, 2014.

Critical Documents

New Lebanon School Building Project (2015-Present)

New Lebanon School Feasibility Study (2014)

The Greenwich Public Schools is proposing a long-term, multifaceted solution for accelerating achievement and addressing the achievement gap, racial imbalance, and facility utilization difficulties as presented in the 2014 State approved Racial Balance Plan. The proposed New Lebanon Elementary School will be built to attract students from the entire town who are interested in an International Baccalaureate (IB) education. The facility needs to be sized to accept the larger enrollment from the catchment area, add space for magnet students, and add classrooms to restore the universal pre-kindergarten program.

The New Lebanon Elementary School was originally built in 1956. Four classrooms were added in 1992. The pre-kindergarten program was moved out of the school for the 2012/13 school year and the kindergarten program moved out in the 2014/15 school year to relieve some of the crowding. Many of the classrooms are sized correctly, but all the special classrooms, gym, administration, and small group learning rooms are undersized. The smaller than average cafeteria and kitchen impact the school schedule.

Project Team Minutes

It is important to note, that the final decision on site layout, number of parking spaces, on-site vehicular circulation and off -site traffic studies including other site constraints will be analyzed in more detail, during the land-use approval process. Final site approval is based on approvals from various land-use agencies of the Town of Greenwich.

From State Citation to Approved Racial Balance Plan (2012-2014)

July 9, 2014
Greenwich Public Schools Racial Balance Plan Presentation to Connecticut State Board of Education (CSBOE)
Unanimously approved by the CSBOE as presented, conditioned on providing a deliverable timeline within 90 days

June 17, 2014
Greenwich Public Schools Racial Balance Plan - Agenda Item for Action at June 17, 2014 BOE Meeting
(Approved as presented 6/17/14)

May 22, 2014
Discussion of State Attorney's Feedback on Racial Balance Plan at May 22, 2014 BOE Meeting

May 1, 2014
Presentation of Draft Racial Balance Plan - Agenda Item at May 1, 2014 BOE Work Session

April 24, 2014
Discussion of Racial Balance Plan - Agenda Item at April 24, 2014 BOE Meeting

Appendix to April 24, 2014 Racial Balance Plan

Action on New Lebanon School Planning Limitations - Agenda Item at April 24, 2014 BOE Meeting

April 3, 2014
Discussion of New Lebanon School Feasibility Study - Agenda Item at April 3, 2014 BOE Work Session

March 20, 2014
Discussion of New Lebanon School Pre-Feasibility Study - Agenda Item at March 20, 2014 BOE Meeting

February 19, 2014
New Lebanon School Facility Update for 2014-2015 School Year (En Espanol)

January 7, 2014
Facility Utilization & Racial Balance Update - Agenda Item at January 9, 2014 BOE Meeting

November 7, 2013
Next Steps on Facility Utilization & Racial Balance - Agenda Item at November 7, 2013 BOE Budget Meeting

October 24, 2013
Facility Utilization & Racial Balance Report - Agenda Item at October 24, 2013 BOE Meeting

October 10, 2013
Letter from CT Commissioner of Education on Unique Schools Status Question - Dated 10/8/13, Received via Email 10/10/13
Facility Utilization & Racial Balance - Metis Report - Agenda Item for October 10, 2013 Board Meeting

October 8, 29013
Facility Utilization and Racial Balance: Current Status and Options

September 26, 2013
Facility Utilization and Racial Balance Update at September 26, 2014 BOE Meeting
ADDENDUM: Update: New Lebanon School Expansion Study
ADDENDUM: Status and Steps for Determining the Board Plan (Revised and Reposted 9/27/13)

September 18, 2013
Letter from Board of Education to CT Department of Education/Commissioner Pryor

September 12, 2013
Facility Utilization and Racial Balance Update at September 12, 2013 Meeting
Metis Survey - A Preliminary Report
Draft Community Schools Plan - Proposed by Board of Education Members Mr. Sherr and Dr. von Braun

August 29, 2013
Facility Utilization and Racial Balance Update at August 29, 2013 Board of Education Meeting (En Espanol)

July 30, 2013
Overview of “Preliminary Proposal 7.30.13” – Facility Utilization & Racial Balance (En Espanol)

July 15, 2013
(Documents submitted to State Board of Education (note change of date for meeting - originally scheduled for 7/10/13))
State Board of Education Meeting on July 15, 2013, 9:30a.m., Legislative Office Building, 300 Capital Avenue, Hartford, CT
Presentation: Addressing Racial Imbalance and Facility Utilization in the Greenwich Public Schools

June 24, 2013
Summary of Board of Education Decisions Made June 20, 2013 & Next Steps

June 20, 2013 (Documents submitted to Board of Education as part of the June 20, 2013 Meeting Agenda)
Frequently Asked Questions Document & Public Comment Summary Report

June 6, 2013 (Documents submitted to Board of Education as part of the June 6, 2013 Meeting Agenda)
Presentation of Possible Options for Addressing Facility Utilization and Racial Balance Issues
Presentation of Possible Options for Addressing Facility Utilization and Racial Balance Issues - En Espanol

May 23, 2013 (Documents submitted to Board of Education as part of the May 23, 2013 Meeting Agenda)
Presentation of Analysis of Existing Conditions (24MB) (2 PPT Slides Per Page Version, Same Report, Smaller File Size (1MB))
Presentation of Analysis of Existing Conditions - En Espanol

BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS

PLEASE NOTE: CONTAINED WITHIN THESE BOARD DOCUMENTS IS INFORMATION FROM STUDIES CONDUCTED IN PRIOR YEARS AND AS FAR BACK AS 2007 THAT ARE NOT DIRECTLY RELEVANT TO OR BEING USED FOR THE CURRENT ENROLLMENT ISSUES FACING THE DISTRICT.

January 30, 2013
Racial Balance Update

December 6, 2012
Racial Imbalance Update Presented to the Board of Education - Answers to Board Questions, Update on International Baccalaureate Programmes in GPS Schools, STEM Presentation

November 8, 2012 (November 1, 2012 Report - Nov. 1st meeting canceled due to Hurricane Sandy, presented on Nov. 8th)
Racial Imbalance Update Presented to the Board of Education - Potential Strategies for Addressing Racial Imbalance

October 18, 2012
Racial Imbalance Update Presented to the Board of Education - Report on discussion with Commissioner Pryor, Additional Data

July 11, 2012
Data Report on Current Racial Imbalance - Stats Compiled by the Administration and Submitted to the Board of Education

June 11, 2012
Letter from Commission Stefan Pryor - Citing Hamilton Avenue and New Lebanon Schools as Racially Imbalanced.