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Gillespie Middle School - The School District of Philadelphia

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PUBLIC HEARING ON THE<br />

PROPOSED CLOSURE OF THE<br />

ELIZABETH D. GILLESPIE MIDDLE SCHOOL<br />

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2009<br />

6:00 P.M<br />

SIMON GRATZ HS AUDITORIUM<br />

<strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Philadelphia</strong><br />

440 N. Broad Street<br />

<strong>Philadelphia</strong>, PA 19130<br />

215.400.4000


Meeting Agenda<br />

2<br />

Welcome<br />

Introduction <strong>of</strong> Panel<br />

Presentation <strong>of</strong> the Recommendation for Closure<br />

Public Comment (Questions & Answers)<br />

Next Steps/Closing


Our Core Beliefs<br />

3<br />

Children come first.<br />

Parents are our partners.<br />

Victory is in the classroom and facilitated by a<br />

strong instructional leader.<br />

Leadership and accountability are the keys to<br />

success.<br />

It takes the engagement <strong>of</strong> the entire community to<br />

ensure the success <strong>of</strong> its public schools.


Panel<br />

4<br />

Dr. Maria Pitre, Chief Academic Officer<br />

Lucy Rodriguez Feria, Regional Superintendent, North Region<br />

Michael Silverman, Regional Superintendent, Comprehensive<br />

High <strong>School</strong>s<br />

Danielle Floyd, Asst. Director, Chief Business Office<br />

William Montgomery, Director, Office <strong>of</strong> Grade and Space<br />

Planning<br />

LeTretta Jones, Director, Office <strong>of</strong> Student Placement<br />

Vernard Trent, Ex. Director, Office <strong>of</strong> Climate and Safety


Reasons for Closure Recommendation<br />

5<br />

<br />

<br />

<strong>Gillespie</strong> has been recommended for the school<br />

closing process, which will be effective June 30,<br />

2009.<br />

<strong>The</strong> reasons for this recommendation are:<br />

1. Declining enrollment due to the addition <strong>of</strong> grades in<br />

neighborhood feeder schools<br />

2. Building capacity significantly exceeds current and<br />

projected future enrollment<br />

3. Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) has not been met


6<br />

Enrollment at <strong>Gillespie</strong> <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>School</strong> is<br />

Declining<br />

Student enrollment data shows a steady decline at <strong>Gillespie</strong> MS from<br />

the 2003-04 academic year to the present.


Enrollment at <strong>Gillespie</strong> is also declining due to the<br />

growth <strong>of</strong> middle grades at the “Feeder <strong>School</strong>s”<br />

7<br />

Contributing to the enrollment decline at <strong>Gillespie</strong> is<br />

the addition <strong>of</strong> middle grades at the three feeder<br />

schools.<br />

M. Hall Stanton and Cleveland schools will add grade<br />

8 for the 2009-10 academic year. <strong>The</strong> Steel school<br />

will add grade 7 for the 2009-10 academic year.<br />

<strong>The</strong>refore, as <strong>of</strong> September 2009, no students will be<br />

feeding into <strong>Gillespie</strong>.


8<br />

<strong>Gillespie</strong> <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>School</strong> has not Operated at<br />

Capacity<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Gillespie</strong> building is 137,000 square feet with a<br />

capacity to house 1,232 students.<br />

<strong>The</strong> building has 5 floors, 53 academic classrooms, a<br />

gymnasium, science lab, and auditorium.<br />

This year, the educational program was consolidated<br />

to 2 floors because <strong>of</strong> low enrollment.<br />

<strong>The</strong> school is currently utilizing 14% <strong>of</strong> the building’s<br />

capacity.


9<br />

<strong>Gillespie</strong> <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>School</strong> has not made<br />

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)<br />

<strong>Gillespie</strong> MS has not achieved Adequate Yearly Progress<br />

in the past five years. While year-over-year results have<br />

improved slightly, they still remain far below the <strong>District</strong><br />

average for “pr<strong>of</strong>iciency” (grade level performance) in<br />

basic skills like reading and math.<br />

2003-2004 Corrective Action II<br />

2004-2005 Corrective Action II-Year 2<br />

2005-2006 Corrective Action II-Year 3<br />

2006-2007 Corrective Action II-Year 4<br />

2007-2008 Corrective Action II-Year 5<br />

2008-2009 Corrective Action II-Year 6


Proposed Student Transition Plan<br />

10<br />

<strong>The</strong> present seventh grade class (59 students) will be allowed<br />

to complete their educational program as eighth grade<br />

students and graduate as <strong>Gillespie</strong> students.<br />

Students will be relocated to a designated area within Simon<br />

Gratz High <strong>School</strong> for the 2009-10 academic year.<br />

Simon Gratz High <strong>School</strong> has the capacity to house 2000<br />

students and is currently utilizing 67% <strong>of</strong> the building’s<br />

capacity.<br />

<strong>The</strong> addition <strong>of</strong> the 59 <strong>Gillespie</strong> students at Gratz would<br />

raise utilization to just 70% <strong>of</strong> the building’s capacity.<br />

Families may also choose to complete the Voluntary Transfer<br />

Program Application for a space in other <strong>District</strong> elementary<br />

and middle schools.


<strong>School</strong> Year 2009-10 <strong>Gillespie</strong> Budget<br />

11<br />

<strong>Gillespie</strong> will be allocated a budget for FY10. <strong>The</strong><br />

budget, including supplemental resources, will be<br />

determined in part by student enrollment.<br />

As an Empowerment <strong>School</strong>, <strong>Gillespie</strong> will continue<br />

to receive additional support services.<br />

Parents should continue to follow the budget<br />

planning process and work with school<br />

administrators to determine the school’s priorities for<br />

FY10.


Next Steps/Closing<br />

12<br />

Your input and participation throughout this process remains an<br />

important element <strong>of</strong> the <strong>District</strong>’s final recommendation to the<br />

<strong>School</strong> Reform Commission (SRC).<br />

A special meeting <strong>of</strong> the SRC on this topic is scheduled for<br />

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at the <strong>School</strong> <strong>District</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>Philadelphia</strong>’s Education Center.<br />

Any interested person may address the SRC and submit written<br />

questions/comments by pre-registering with the Office <strong>of</strong><br />

Communications at 215-400-4040, no later than 4:30 p.m. on<br />

Tuesday, March 10, 2009.<br />

A second community meeting will be scheduled in March. You<br />

will receive written notification <strong>of</strong> the date, time, and location<br />

in the mail.


13<br />

APPENDIX


14<br />

Enrollment at <strong>Gillespie</strong> is Declining


15<br />

Enrollment has remained steady at <strong>Gillespie</strong>’s<br />

“Feeder <strong>School</strong>s” due to addition <strong>of</strong> <strong>Middle</strong> Grades


16<br />

<strong>Gillespie</strong> <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>School</strong> has not Operated at<br />

Capacity


17<br />

<strong>Gillespie</strong>’s “Feeder <strong>School</strong>s” have excess<br />

capacity


18<br />

Enrollment at Simon Gratz High <strong>School</strong> has<br />

Declined


19<br />

Simon Gratz High <strong>School</strong> has excess capacity

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