Equal Opportunity in the Fort Wayne Community Schools: A ...

special instructional facilities. Nor can we project sufficientenrollment decreases to say that grades 9-12 could be accommodatedin existing facilities. Because of locations, size, sitelimitations, enrollment needs, uneven distribution of pupilsin the school district, and excessive costs of additions, it is notadvisable to add to the existing high schools. Moving some3,200 ninth graders into the senior high schools will requirea commitment of this school corporation to build a new highschool to house approximately 1,500 pupils. This move alsowill require adaptations in the existing six high schools toprovide space and facilities. Projections of enrollments indicateadequate and defensible utilization of all projectedsenior high school facilities in the foreseeable future.The additional high school spaces will be needed in thenorthern part of the school district because of present enrollmentsand projected growth. The Allen County Plan Commissionhas forecast population increases for all four townshipsof the school district in the next 13 years. However, themajor increases are projected for Washington and St. Josephtownships in the north.This additional high school facility in the north also willaccommodate anticipated reassignment of some students inorder to maintain racial balance at the secondary level.IV. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CUMULA-TIVE BUILDING FUND RATE OF 70c BE CONTIN-UED TO COVER COLLECTIONS IN THE YEARS1979 THROUGH 1983.With existing balances and anticipated collections through1983, the Fort Wayne Community Schools, through the continuanceof the present Cumulative Building Fund tax rate,will have sufficient capital funds for anticipated needs including,construction of the new high school.Implementation of these programs and facility changes canbegin in September of 1977, and all reorganization and relatedfacility changes can be completed by September, 1980.In September of 1977, the ninth grade will continue inWayne High School. During the 1977-1978 school year,Wayne High School will be used as a model for the 9-12 organizationprogram for other senior high schools.Also in September of 1977, the sixth grade at Miami JuniorHigh School's feeder schools will be assigned to Miami, creatingthe first junior high of grades 6-7-8. We will use the1977-1978 school year to develop a model educational programfor future junior high schools of grades 6-7-8.The present program at McCulloch Elementary School willbe discontinued in the spring of 1977, and those pupils will beassigned to Memorial Park in September, 1977.The Fort Wayne Community Schools' Fourth Grade Centerat the McCulloch building will open in September, 1977.However, until all of the sixth grade pupils are moved intothe 6-7-8 junior high schools, this Enrichment Center mayThis plan is recommended by the Administration to theBoard of School Trustees for adoption no later than April,1?77. Action at that time is important in order that implementationmay begin in September of 1977.The plan merits adoption because:1. It provides excellent opportunities for better educationalprograms through grade reorganization.2. It allows for optimum use of facilities during periods ofpupil population changes.3. It upgrades facilities in those areas where they are neededmost at this time and in the foreseeable future.4. It makes improvement at this time in racial balances whichare educationally sound and at the same time are economicallyfeasible, and involve the total community.IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULESUMMARYserve sixth grade as well as fourth grade. The Fifth GradeCenter will open in September, 1978, when facilities at theWard building become available.Harmar School will close in June of 1977, and in Septemberthe students in the present Harmar attendance area willbe assigned to Washington, Memorial Park, Forest Park,Riverside, Slocum, and Brentwood schools.In June of 1978, Hillcrest, Hanna and Hoagland schoolswill close. Hillcrest's attendance area will be divided amongMaplewood, Southern Heights, and South Calhoun schools.Hanna pupils will attend Bunche, Weisser Park, and HarrisonHill schools; and Hoagland pupils will be assigned toSouth Wayne, Study, and Lindley schools.In all school closings existing transportation policies will beapplied.Continuing evaluation of improvements in racial balancesand possibilities for more adjustments will be made each yearand a report made to the Board of School Trustees at thelast meeting each October.5. It emphasizes a creative approach to helping fourth andfifth grade pupils to learn to live in a multi-ethnic andmulti-racial environment.6. It sets forth long-range goals which can be accomplishedon a pay-as-you-go program without mortgaging the futureof this school corporation.These six features of the plan merit serious considerationand' acceptance by the Board of School Trustees and thecommunity.We trust that members of the Board, parents, school personneland other interested citizens will study and considerthis plan as a totality and seek to grasp its forward-lookingaspects, its prudence and its reach for community unity.40