Updates to Board of Trustee by SBAC Chair Pat Miller during Budgetary Workshop of Feb 20, 2014

Around 9 pm, Pat Miller took up the presentation to update the Board on the status of SBAC. HereI summarize what he had to share:

1. That the SBAC is still working on recommendation, and no recommendation in regard to rezoning has been finalized yet. Once finalized, as promised, there would be a public forum, after which it will be brought to the Trustees for final voting. The voting will happen in April, 2014. Here is the timeline: 

   SBAC update to the Board at the Budget Workshop – Feb 20 (Alvin)

·         Additional Citizens committee to be held Feb 27 (tentative)

·         An additional open forum has been requested by various Trustees (date TBD)

·         Present proposal to Board at the April Board meeting (tentative)

2. The first Public Hearing of Feb 10, was attended by about 180 parents, with over 90% attendees from Shadow Creek Ranch. According to Pat Miller, this represents a very small number of parents attending the public forum from a community which has about 4,400 single homes. 

Please note following number of students from the affected sub-divisions from SCR that attends Marek: 

Gables- 50
Heron Bay- 27
Reflection Point- 48
Morningside- 31

Total: 156 kids

I live in Morningside, and I have 2 kids going to Marek. If my calculation is correct, a 180 parents for 156 affected kids from this rezoning is a pretty impressive number. 

3. During the update, Daniel McComb, Director of Communication, mentioned that Alvin ISD does not make the flyers. These are printed on behalf of Alvin ISD by various not-for-profit organizations within the community. Because of lack of control of Alvin ISD on these organizations, the parents received black and white, and not a color, flyer, about 10 days before the first public forum. 

My questions: 
Couldn't Alvin ISD requested these flyers to be sent out way in advance, say before the formation of SBAC ? 

What about email communication from the School ? from the Avlin ISD? or at Alvin ISD website ( and even on the Facebook site)?  

Mr. McComb has promised the Board that communication concern is being addressed by constantly updating the website: http://www.alvinisd.net/zoning

3. Here is the main slide that Mr. Miller spent most of his time. He had no new information to add on to. The main message was that the SCR has witnessed unprecedented growth. That many multi-family houses (Apartments) have been built around Marek. There are two land sites of another elementary and a junior high within SCR. 

Here is the current numbers of students attending from Apartments and the single family homes: 

SCR subdivisions:

Gables- 50
Heron Bay- 27
Reflection Point- 48
Morningside- 31

Apartments- Alexan-24
Villas- 96 and 42
Retreat and Discovery Bay- 43 total

School Capacity

Marek: 872   Current 931

Wilder: 908    Current 893

My questions: 

1. If we move on with proposed recommendation, all 4 subdivision would be assigned to Wilder, which will add about 150 kids to Wilder from Marek. The new number would be (without considering new enrollments/ graduations)

Marek = 781

Wilder= 1043

The projected 2014-15 with rezoning ( http://www.alvinisd.net/zoning) would be: 

Marek: 748

Wilder = 751

Surely, I would like to see how the 2014-15 numbers are being projected. 

2. The total number of student enrollment and graduation of Multi-family (apartments) vs single home at Marek since 2004. The capacity problem at Marek is because of the 4 new apartment complexes built around Marek. While apartment complex pay property tax, the taxes paid per family of single homes is much higher ( at least 1: 3) than the apartment complexes. The 4 apartment complexes zoned to Marek has 2000 apartment units. Total Single family homes in SCR is around 4, 400. In new future a  new apartment complex construction near Sam's club will begin soon. This would be again zoned to Marek. 

The map below shows the total number of units in these apartment complexes and number of students from these complexes attending Marek. Only one apartment complex is zoned to Wilder, while all 4 are zoned to Marek.

By moving 150 kids (considered to be overcrowding population of Marek) to Wilder (that is 15 students short of operating at its max capacity) is not going to be a long run solution ( and is not a good short run solution either). 

Miller also remarked "any proposed rezoning is not going to keep every parents happy". 

(True. When Ms. Hawk had to select representatives for SBAC, she chose parents from Single Family Home. The first public forum did not have a single member residing in the Apartment complexes. Those who have invested the most time and money are the one who  would be the most angry and that is what happening)

As the density of students from the apartment going to Marek will increase (existing and future complexes), the rezoning of Marek will continue. This will eventually shrink the number of students from the single home of SCR attending to Marek. This will lead to rezoning of further subdivisions of SCR from Marek to Wilder.

4. Pat Miller pointed out the concerns raised during the Public Forum, and the SBAC response. The detail on this is posted at : http://www.alvinisd.net/zoning

I am listing copying below the important ones that matter to us - 

1. Alvin ISD has expressed that they strive to use “natural boundaries” when creating school attendance boundaries.  What is a “natural boundary”?

Answer: The District strives to utilize existing objects, naturally occurring or man-made, which create separation between immediate sections of a neighborhood.  As an example, large roadways or thoroughfares, such as FM518 and McHard Road, create an ideal boundary, as do waterways and detention.  Utility easements or green spaces serve as good natural boundaries because they create distance between sections of homes.  Other items such as parks or non-residential properties create an opportunity to draw attendance boundaries that do not separate families living in close proximity to one another. 

My response: 

The usage of "natural boundary" to rezone 4 subdivisions to Wilder is nonsensical and irrelevant. SCR can be zoned hundred different ways, without any one challenging the definition of "natural boundary".  

2. What is the purpose of having parent representatives on the School Boundary Advisory Committee if they do not meet individually with impacted neighborhoods? 

Answer: Alvin ISD has utilized the process of having parents on the SBAC.  These committee members are charged with looking out for the best interests of the entire district.  The individual representatives are not asked to represent individual streets, sections or neighborhoods.  The SBAC Public Forum is held to allow people in impacted areas to express their personal concerns or the concerns of their neighbors.  Committee members are asked to provide feedback, ideas and additional considerations for the purpose of ensuring final recommendations that best serve all  families in Alvin ISD

My response: 

Please note how they have phrased the question. We are educated enough to know that it is not possible for 3 reps to meet us "individually" (and  to be honest, why not? After all each of us pay our dues to the local and state economy. Don't we?) The strongest opposition regarding the SBAC recommendation is from the parents of Marek from the 4 sub-divisions. 

The 3-4 options rezoning options provided by the demographers (and Alvin ISD officials) to SBAC did not affect the 3 reps and their children going to Marek.  In order to form a committee, the purpose of the committee had to be communicated well in advance to all the parents. Even if the affected parents are not in the Marek representing committee, there should have been communication by the PTO, Principal, and Alvin ISD before, and during the committee formation. 

3. Does the cost associated with transportation drive the decision to leave apartments in current attendance zone boundaries? 

Answer: Not at all. As the SBAC discussed feedback provided during the public forum, it became apparent that the zoning of apartment complexes resulted in a considerable number of questions.   The District must be good stewards of every tax dollar and identify the cost implications of future decisions.  The apartments currently zoned to Marek Elementary are within 2 miles of the campus.  Zoning them to a different campus would place them outside of the 2-mile radius thus requiring bus transportation, which results in an annual district expenditure exceeding $200,000.  Transportation costs are not an SBAC guiding principal; however, it does warrant discussion. 

My Response: 

From yesterday's budgetary  presentation, Alvin ISD is projected to have a surplus of $ 6 million ( and it remains positive surplus for next 3 years or so). Bus transportation receives State level Funding. Alvin ISD receives local, state, and federal funding. I am sure if the need be, it can be worked upon. 

5. Does the current SBAC recommendation increase elementary travel distances for the families in Reflection Pointe, Morningside, Heron Bay and The Gables?  

Answer: By in large, Reflection Pointe, Morningside, and Heron Bay experience the same trip distances to Wilder Elementary as they currently travel to Marek Elementary.  The distance from the front gate of The Gables to Wilder is slightly increased over the current distance to Marek; however, both distances are well below the District’s 2-mile threshold for providing transportation.

No Response