District 279 - District News ~ Transition Plan Updates

Transition Plan Updates 2008 – 2009

Transition Update - April 22, 2008

Elementary School Transitions

A JWG (Joint Work Group) for the Spring–Fall Transition has begun meeting. This group is focused on transitions that students, parents and staff will experience over the next few months as school assignments have changed. The group has set up a three phase timeline:

Phase I runs from now until June 6 and deals with specific items that are necessary for students, parents and staff before the end of the school year, including informational meetings, school visits and a Transition Week*.

Phase II will occur from June 7 to September 2 and involves the moving plan and the summer transition needs which are being addressed by a Logistics Joint Work Group. This includes the move of physical items such as furniture, curriculum materials, books, supplies, technology, etc.

Phase III will begin September 2 through November 25 (the first trimester of the school year) and will focus on implementing staff development and reviewing the fall transition needs that arise.

* A Transition Week for students to visit their new school is scheduled for the last week of May and as information becomes available, it will be posted on the web site.

Pre K–3 and 4-6 Campus School - “Uniting Communities For Learning” (UCFL)

Regular, weekly meetings have been held by the Steering Committee of UCFL. The committee is currently comprised of 19 individuals:

6 parents - 2 from each school

3 teachers – 1 from each school

3 principals – 1 from each school

1 assistant principal

2 early childhood site administrators

3 systems leaders from the Educational Service Center

1 cabinet member

The group has developed a three-point “Working Vision” for the Campus School:

● All students are thriving socially and emotionally, as well as academically.

● Students, families, and staff are connected within the campus community.

● The entire campus community is committed to collaboration and interdependence at all levels.

Five Joint Work Groups (JWG) have been created and a sixth one dealing with Research, Assessment and Evaluation will be established.

Logistics

The logistics group’s purpose is to plan, communicate and implement the moving of resources between schools while preserving an atmosphere of teaching and learning through the end of the school year

The logistics group has asked site leaders to identify a “logistics contact person” who will field questions and channel information to and from the site. These contacts will meet with the logistic group to communicate the timeline and details for each of the main areas involved in moving equipment and resources:

Materials, Furniture and Supplies
Curriculum
Technology
Physical Move
Site Changes & Improvements
Media

Transportation

At its Work Session prior to the School Board meeting, directors heard from Dale Carlstrom, Director of Facilities and Transportation Operations, about the recommendations of the transportation team in regard to bell time changes and tier placement for the 2008-2009 school year.

Tier 1 – Drop off 7:10 a.m. Start 7:30 a.m. End 2 p.m. Buses pull out 2:07 p.m. Maple Grove Senior High – Osseo Senior High – Park Center Senior High – Northview Junior High

Tier 2 – Drop off 7:50 a.m. Start 8:10 a.m. End 2:40 p.m. Buses pull out 2:47 p.m. Osseo Junior High - Maple Grove Junior High – Brooklyn Junior High

Tier 3 – Drop off 8:40 a.m. Start 8:50 a.m. End 3:20 p.m. Buses pull out 3:27 p.m. Osseo Area Learning Center – Rice Lake – Park Brook – Crest View – Elm Creek – Fernbrook – Edinbrook – Basswood – Palmer Lake

Tier 4 – Drop off 9:20 a.m. Start 9:30 a.m. End 4 p.m. Buses pull out 4:07 p.m. Woodland – Rush Creek – Zanewood – Campus (Oak View, Cedar Island, Fair Oaks) – Garden City – Weaver Lake (STEM) – Birch Grove

Student Services Programs

There will be changes made as to where specific Student Services Programs will be located. Parents affected by the changes have been notified. Click here for additional information on locations of these programs: Connect; Skills; Strategies; Deaf/Hard of Hearing Resource Program; and English Language Learner.

Enrollment Center

Beginning in early July, the Osseo Area Schools Enrollment Center will be located on the fist floor of the Adult Education Center at 7051 Brooklyn Boulevard in Brooklyn Center. The leased space at 7600 Boone Avenue where the center is presently located will be used for the ACHIEVE Program.

Some interesting facts in regard to the Enrollment Center were presented by Mike Looby:

● Since July 2007, there have been nearly 4,500 transactions take place at the Center. These include new students, transferring students and address changes.

● Nearly 20%, or about 4,200 students in ISD 279 have chosen to enroll in one of our schools which is not the school for their assigned attendance area.

● Thus far this school year, the number of students enrolling in ISD 279 that are brand new to the United States stands at 133. This compares with 44 last year and 35 the previous year.

● Of the 700 K–12 students tested for English Language Learning needs, 590 qualified for services.

Staffing

A draft Employee Separation Letter was presented by Rich Melvin, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources. The letter contains useful information for those employees having their employment terminated.

The school district will be holding two informational meetings in May for staff members losing their jobs. The first will be held Thursday, May 22 beginning at 4 p.m. at Osseo Senior High and the second will be Tuesday, May 27, again beginning at 4 p.m. and being held at Park Center Senior High.

The district is working with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Security (DEED), the Minnesota Dislocated Worker Program and unions to help these people understand how to access the resources available to them. The Employee Assistance Program will also be available to these people as well.

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