Common Questions and Answers
The Commonly Asked Questions and Answers were created using questions people submitted through our feedback form, along with questions that came up during the staff survey.
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- Communication and Transparency
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- Other Concerns
- Purpose, Goals, and Financial Considerations
- Ratios & Accuracy
- Specific School and Program Concerns
- Staffing & Reductions
- Staffing and Human Resources - General Concerns
- Staffing and Human Resources - Impact on Specific Staff Types
- Student Experience and Class Sizes
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- Trust, Transparency & Decision-Making
Questions?
Parent and community members are invited to contribute to the discussion by asking questions. Questions will be answered in the FAQs.
Are EACC students included in ECS student counts, and how does that affect the accuracy of staff-to-student ratio data?
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about Are EACC students included in ECS student counts, and how does that affect the accuracy of staff-to-student ratio data?
Are special education services at risk of being reduced?
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about Are special education services at risk of being reduced?
Are there other cost-cutting measures ECS has taken or plans to take in the future?
- Staff
Are there plans to decentralize the Elementary High Ability program currently located at Roosevelt?
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about Are there plans to decentralize the Elementary High Ability program currently located at Roosevelt?
Are we actually doing a TRUE consolidation?
- Staff
Are you considering closing one of the three middle schools?
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about Are you considering closing one of the three middle schools?
Could improving student retention reduce the need for consolidation?
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about Could improving student retention reduce the need for consolidation?
Do you anticipate a reduction in force for staff?
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about Do you anticipate a reduction in force for staff?
Has the district studied why families are leaving for charter schools or homeschooling?
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about Has the district studied why families are leaving for charter schools or homeschooling?
Has there been any thought about housing all Alternative Education programs in one location?
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about Has there been any thought about housing all Alternative Education programs in one location?
How can the district claim a 14:1 student-to-staff ratio when most classrooms have 25+ students?
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about How can the district claim a 14:1 student-to-staff ratio when most classrooms have 25+ students?
How many building administrators are at each school of study?
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about How many building administrators are at each school of study?
How many schools do you anticipate needing to consolidate or close?
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about How many schools do you anticipate needing to consolidate or close?
How many support staff members are expected to lose their jobs due to consolidation?
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about How many support staff members are expected to lose their jobs due to consolidation?
How will administration-to-teacher ratios be managed?
- Staff
How will administrative hiring, consultant hiring, and salaries be managed in light of building closures?
- Staff
How will behavior support and counseling services be managed during consolidation?
- Staff
How will behavioral support and intervention staff be provided for larger student populations?
- Staff
How will bell schedules for middle and high schools be impacted?
- Staff
How will classroom space be allocated for related services, interventions, and programs like music, art, and PACE?
- Staff
How will consolidation affect extracurricular programs, arts, and music programs?
- Staff
How will consolidation decisions affect community perception and support for public schools?
- Staff
How will consolidation impact staff morale, especially considering past rushed changes (e.g., 6th-grade transition)?
- Staff
How will decisions about staffing be communicated to staff?
- Staff
How will equity between schools in terms of funding, resources, and staffing be ensured?
- Staff
How will financial decisions impact teacher pay, raises, and retention?
- Staff
How will leadership positions be determined in each building?
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about How will leadership positions be determined in each building?
How will long-term stability for students, families, and staff be ensured?
- Staff
How will reductions in force (if any) be handled?
- Staff
How will specialized programs (SPED, ENL, high ability, intervention programs) be maintained?
- Staff
How will staff and teachers be kept informed throughout the process?
- Staff
How will staff for intensive interventions or special programs be assigned to ensure student safety and learning?
- Staff
How will staff input be included in the decision-making process?
- Staff
How will staff on improvement plans be considered relative to high-performing staff?
- Staff
How will staff placement/reassignment happen after consolidation?
- Staff
How will staffing decisions be made if buildings are consolidated?
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about How will staffing decisions be made if buildings are consolidated?
How will students from closed schools be assigned to new schools?
- Staff
How will teacher overloads be handled if there is a shortage after consolidation?
- Staff
How will the district address potential loss of teachers to other districts?
- Staff
How will the district balance financial responsibility with the need to maintain educational quality?
- Staff
How will the district continue to communicate updates and involve staff and families in the process?
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about How will the district continue to communicate updates and involve staff and families in the process?
How will the district decide which staff members are retained or reassigned?
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about How will the district decide which staff members are retained or reassigned?
How will the district ensure that Special Education and English Learner students continue to receive the services they need?
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about How will the district ensure that Special Education and English Learner students continue to receive the services they need?
How will the district ensure transparency in allocation of resources, staffing, and finances?
- Staff
How will the district maintain trust among teachers, staff, and families?
- Staff
How will those savings be reinvested to benefit students?
- Finance FAQ
How will timelines for decisions and staffing be communicated?
- Staff
How will Title I funding and resources be impacted by consolidation?
- Staff
How will transportation staff be impacted by consolidation?
- Staff
Is there a plan to sell or repurpose buildings, and how will proceeds be used (e.g., to benefit staff pay)?
- Staff
The staff-to-student ratio appears high. How will the district reduce staffing costs while maintaining quality instruction?
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about The staff-to-student ratio appears high. How will the district reduce staffing costs while maintaining quality instruction?
What criteria will be used to determine which schools are closed?
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about What criteria will be used to determine which schools are closed?
What have we learned from those findings, and how will we address the reasons students are leaving?
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about What have we learned from those findings, and how will we address the reasons students are leaving?
What is the district’s plan to attract and retain students?
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about What is the district’s plan to attract and retain students?
What is the timeline for making key decisions related to consolidation?
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about What is the timeline for making key decisions related to consolidation?
What will happen to custodians and other support staff at schools that close?
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about What will happen to custodians and other support staff at schools that close?
What will happen to “extra” specials teachers, principals, and interventionists?
- Staff
Where will the funds saved from consolidation be allocated?
- Staff
Why not close and shut down unused school spaces now, especially before heating season?
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about Why not close and shut down unused school spaces now, especially before heating season?
Why should the community bear the financial burden through referendums when the issues stem from administrative decisions?
- Finance FAQ
Will academic excellence be considered when deciding which schools to close?
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about Will academic excellence be considered when deciding which schools to close?
Will buildings be adequately staffed and equipped to handle additional students?
- Staff
Will bus routes and pick-up/drop-off times change, and how will this affect families?
- Staff
Will central office staff be reduced?
- Staff
Will class period lengths and schedules (blue/gold days, middle school rotations) be reviewed for efficiency?
- Staff
Will class sizes increase, and if so, how will this impact learning?
- Staff
Will coaching and intervention positions be maintained, reduced, or reassigned?
- Staff
Will ENL and interventionist positions increase to meet the needs of growing student populations?
- Staff
Will school climate and culture be maintained during consolidation?
- Staff
Will schools being closed be sold or repurposed, and how will this affect resources?
- Staff
Will schools have adequate classrooms and space for current and future student populations?
- Staff
Will schools like Bristol, Osolo, and Riverview remain open due to location, Title I funding, or community needs?
- Staff
Will schools remain equitable in terms of SES, race, and access to resources?
- Staff
Will schools with unique student populations (e.g., high ENL or high trauma populations) receive adequate support?
- Staff
Will seniority guide placements, or will evaluations and fit for positions also be considered?
- Staff
Will staff affected by consolidation be notified before the public?
- Staff
Will staff close to retirement be offered early retirement options?
- Staff
Will teachers have input into where they are placed?
- Staff
Will the district maintain resources proportionate to student needs rather than evenly distributed?
- Staff
Will the Freshman Division remain separate, or will it be merged with the 10–12 campus?
- Staff
Will Title I positions, ENL teachers, and special education staff be maintained or redistributed?
- Staff
Will walk zones be adjusted to ensure student safety?
- Staff