HPISD Elementary School Rezoning Process

“This has been an iterative process, and the end result is that we have a boundary map that we believe sets up all five elementary schools for success,” Committee Chairman Paul Rowsey said. “I truly appreciate both the way that our committee has gone about its work and the way our community has been involved in the process.”

The committee held seven meetings beginning in April. It has met weekly during the last four weeks to continue making adjustments to the plan. More than 800 comments were submitted through the district’s website that was then read by members of the committee.

The plan that will be submitted to the board used the following criteria developed at the beginning of the process: 

• Attempt to evenly balance the numbers of K-4 students based on enrollment relative to building capacity, considering the number of sections, number of students, and percent of capacity.
• Create a boundary plan with long-term viability taking into account projected enrollment for at least 3-5 years.
• Create a boundary plan that provides efficiencies for operations (fiscal considerations).
• Create a boundary plan that provides contiguous attendance areas.

In addition, the committee took into consideration the following:

• Safety (i.e., traffic, crossing of major streets)
• Travel time for students
• Schools that foster a sense of community; seek to maintain as much continuity as possible with current attendance boundaries
• Community input

Boundary Rezoning Committee assembles for first meeting

Publication date: May 3, 2019 

Highland Park ISD’s Boundary Rezoning Committee held its first meeting on Tuesday, April 30, to begin the process of redrawing school attendance boundaries for the district’s five elementary school campuses, up from the current four. The new boundaries are scheduled to go into effect at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.

 

The committee reviewed the process it will undertake to formulate a recommendation to the HPISD Board of Trustees in October of this year. Minutes from the meeting have been posted here. Handouts presented at the meeting can be accessed here.

 

Throughout the process, community members will have the opportunity to provide input and feedback through an online form.

 

The next meeting is scheduled for 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4 at the current Hyer Elementary School, 8385 Durham, and is open to the public to attend and observe. Comments from the public via the online form will need to be submitted before the close of business on Friday, May 31, in order to be forwarded to the committee prior to its June meeting. Input submitted after that time will be considered during the following schedule meeting.

 

Boundary Rezoning Committee to meet for the first time Tuesday, April 30

Publication date: April 26, 2019 

 

Highland Park ISD's Boundary Rezoning Committee will hold its first meeting Tuesday evening to begin the process of redrawing school attendance boundaries for the district's five elementary school campuses, up from the current four. The meeting will take place from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 30 at the current Hyer Elementary School, 8385 Durham, and is open to the public to attend and observe.

 

The committee will review the process that it will undertake to formulate a recommendation to the HPISD Board of Trustees in October of this year. The new boundaries are scheduled to go into effect at the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.

The committee is made up of 15 district residents, including two volunteers from each current school attendance zone (eight total), two additional community members, as well as current and former trustees.

The committee members include:

 

G.T. Barden Michael Bodwell Mike Boone (former trustee) Michael Denton Jr. Judy Gibbs (former trustee) Stacy Kelly (HPISD Trustee) Blythe Koch Ellen Lee

Julie Lilly Larry Nixon Paul Rowsey, Chair (HPISD Trustee) Tom Sharpe (HPISD Trustee) Lynn Stocker Lee Wagner Doug Woodward

 

HPISD administrators, Superintendent Dr. Tom Trigg, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Mike White and Chief of Staff Jon Dahlander, will serve as ex-officio members.

 

"The first meeting will set the framework for our discussions," Trustee and Committee Chair Paul Rowsey said. "We will review our charge, the criteria we plan to use and various items that will need to be considered in drafting new boundaries. This will be a thoughtful, deliberative process."

The District will provide regular updates on the committee's work and post its minutes on the HPISD website. Throughout the process, community members will have the opportunity to provide input and feedback through an online form. A web page has been created to serve as a clearinghouse for information on the process.

"Since every elementary school boundary is going to be impacted, we believe it is important that the community have an opportunity to observe the process and provide feedback," Rowsey added. "We recognize that parents, students and residents will be watching closely and we want everyone to understand the rationale for decisions that will eventually be made."

• an individual who has made a significant contribution to society and/or education whose name will lend prestige and status to the school, and who has served HPISD or the local community, or;
• a place or geographical location that is significant to the Highland Park ISD community.

Boundary Rezoning Committee formed to begin studying new elementary attendance zones for Highland Park ISD

Publication date: March 20, 2019

Fifteen district residents have been selected to be part of a committee that will study and make recommendations to the HPISD Board of Trustees for new elementary school attendance boundaries to go into effect in the 2020-21 school year. The committee includes two volunteers from each current school attendance zone (eight total), two additional community members, as well as current and former trustees.

The Boundary Rezoning Committee will begin its work in April with the goal of making a recommendation for five elementary school boundaries, up from the existing four, to the Board in October 2019.

The committee members include:

Three HPISD administrators, Superintendent Dr. Tom Trigg, Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Mike White and Chief of Staff Jon Dahlander will serve as ex-officio members.

"We were very pleased to have 60 people apply to serve on this committee, each of whom brought unique strengths to the process," Committee Chair and Trustee Paul Rowsey said. "I am confident that the individuals selected will be analytical, data-driven and approach our task with a district-wide perspective."

For the first time in its 105-year history, Highland Park ISD will have five elementary schools in operation. The newest campus, located at 8385 Durham, is scheduled to open as its own school beginning in the 2020-21 school year. The school is currently occupied by students and staff from Hyer Elementary, which will be rebuilt during the 2019-20 school year. The new school will be named this fall following a process that will allow the community to nominate prospective names.

The committee will begin its work in April and will allow the public to observe all of its meetings. The district will provide regular updates on the committee's work and post its minutes online. In addition, throughout the process, community members will have the opportunity to provide input and feedback through an online form.

"Since every elementary school boundary is going to be impacted, we believe it is important that the community have an opportunity to observe the process and provide feedback," Rowsey said. "We recognize that parents, students and residents will be watching closely and we want everyone to understand the rationale for decisions that will eventually be made."

As previously announced, students who will be in the fourth grade during the 2020-21 school year will be given the option of attending their current school or attending the new school to which they will be assigned as the result of the new school boundaries.