Question / Answers
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PARMA CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
Answers about the Elementary Consolidation Plan
1. What are the present elementary enrollment figures?
As of November 20, 2008, the numbers by cluster were:
NORMANDY CLUSTER
Green Valley 410
Dentzler 376
John Glenn 374
Dag Hammarskjold 280
PARMA CLUSTER
Thoreau Park 648
John Muir 520
State Road 409
Renwood 350
Parkview 290
VALLEY FORGE CLUSTER
Pleasant Valley 523
Ridge-Brook 409
Hanna 352
Pearl Road 352
Parma Park 342
Pleasantview 293
2. What is the total district enrollment?
There are 12,625 students districtwide.
3. How do we compare to enrollment from 10 years ago?
With the same number of schools we have now, there are 785 fewer elementary students today than there were 10 years ago.
4. Was enrollment the only reason behind the consolidation?
Many factors were involved such as the strategic location of the buildings. The district wanted to move students from the closed buildings to nearby schools that were within the same cluster.
Other considerations included building size, the physical condition of the buildings, building maintenance costs, and the ease of transitioning students between buildings.
5. Will my child be traveling farther from home to attend another school?
The answer depends on where you live in relation to your present school. Parkview students would move to State Road, Renwood or Thoreau Park. State Road is one half-mile from Parkview and Renwood and Thoreau Park are less than two miles from Parkview. If you live on the outer edges of the Parkview attendance zone, your child may actually be closer to his or her new school.
Pleasantview students would move either to Pleasant Valley, which is two miles from Pleasantview, or Parma Park, which is about three miles away. Depending on your location, your child may also be closer to one of these buildings.
The Consolidation Plan does include changing some of the attendance zones at surrounding elementary schools so that each building’s enrollment matches its capacity.
6. Will the present clusters stay intact?
Yes. The Board of Education is committed to keeping the three clusters intact and unchanged. Students from a closing building will attend a school that is within their cluster and also the middle and high school within their cluster.
7. Why do buildings need to be closed?
The district can provide a better educational program when resources are consolidated. Some of these include technology, the services of teaching specialists in the areas of math, language arts, science and social studies, and items such as copy machines, computers, and audio and video equipment.
8. How does consolidation affect employees of closing buildings?
Since students are moving to other schools, many teachers and staff members would move with them. Consolidation would mean fewer principals, teachers, custodians, cleaners, secretaries, noon aides and cafeteria workers.
9. If my child's school is closing, how soon will I know what school he or she will attend?
Once the Board of Education votes to close a school, the process of reassigning students and staff begins immediately. Parents will receive word within a few weeks of the vote.
10. What will happen to special education students?
Similar services are available at the school to which your child is reassigned. Professionals familiar with your child’s needs will be ready to address your child’s educational plan.
11. Has the district closed buildings in the past?
Yes. In the 1980’s the following elementary buildings were closed: Broadview, Crile, Hanna, Parkview, Royal Ridge, Seven Hills, and Stroud.
Fay, Pleasant Valley and Shiloh Junior High Schools were also closed during this time.
When enrollment increased during the 1990’s, Forrest Elementary was closed and then annexed to Greenbriar Middle School. Hanna was reopened to accommodate the students from Forrest.
Pleasant Valley was then reopened as an elementary school and Arlington Elementary was closed. Parkview, after being closed for several years, was reopened as enrollment increased.
12. What happened to the closed schools that were not reopened?
Broadview was sold to a church group.
Crile was sold to the Tri-C Western Campus.
Fay was sold to Parma Hospital.
Royal Ridge was sold to the City of Parma and then became a Cuyahoga County Public Library branch.
Schaaf was sold to a church group who then sold it to the City of Parma who sold it to the Constellation Charter School.
Seven Hills was sold to the City of Seven Hills and became Seven Hills City Hall.
Stroud was sold and became a retirement home.
13. Was a high school considered for closing?
In the 1980’s as enrollment decreased, the district considered closing a high school.
Two years ago, the districts’ administrative offices were moved from Ridge Road to Parma High School and all of the available space at that building was taken.
At that time, the districts’ Maintenance Department was moved to Valley Forge High School to conserve and better utilize space.
Since the district hosts its 18 Career and Technical programs within the three high schools, it would not be possible to close a high school and make all of those programs available. Present figures show that 40% of all junior and senior level high school students enroll in a Career and Technical course.
14. Why close a school like Pleasantview which is rated as "Excellent" on the state report card?
Several of the district’s schools are rated as "Excellent" or are close to achieving that ranking. Students moving to other schools will be offered similar programs along with the opportunity to achieve at the same high levels they are now.
15. What happens to the funds from a building that is closed and then sold?
By law, the funds from the sale must be placed in the Permanent Improvement account which allows that money to be spent on keeping our buildings structurally sound and well maintained.
THIS MONEY CANNOT BE USED FOR GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES OR EMPLOYEE SALARIES.
16. What will happen to the closed buildings?
Because of its location and handicapped accessibility, Parkview will be used as a Learning Center. The First Step Program as a whole will be moved there from Arlington. The Extended Day Kindergarten and Child Care programs will move there from Normandy High School. Arlington and Pleasantview may be placed on the market for sale. Both schools are located on property that could be useful for residential housing, which would contribute to the appeal of their respective neighborhoods.
17. Will my child receive school bus transportation?
The State of Ohio and the Parma Board of Education determine who receives transportation. The state minimum requirement is for all students in grades Kindergarten-8 who live two miles or more from their school to receive busing.
18. Will my child receive art, music, physical education and other programs at his or her new school?
Yes. All elementary buildings offer those same programs.
19. Why isn’t Dag Hammarskjold being closed now?
The administration did not feel it could close four buildings and be effectively prepared for the 2009-10 school year. We want to be sure that the plan works well for every student and staff member. By keeping the number of closings to three and proceeding carefully, we feel this can be done.
The present recommendation is for the district to review its Consolidation options in the next one to two years. At that time, the Dag situation will be addressed.
20. Who served on the Consolidation Committee?
1 parent representative from each cluster
4 community representatives with children who presently attend or have graduated from our district
7 employee union representatives
3 Elementary and Middle School teachers
Several administrators including the Superintendent, Deputy Superintendent, Treasurer, Elementary Principals, and employees from the Business Department, Special Education, and Human Resources.
21. Will these buildings stay open if the levy passes?
No. This is a long-term plan based on being fiscally responsible to our district and the taxpayers of Parma, Parma Heights and Seven Hills.
There are 785 fewer students in the district than in 1992 and enrollment projections show a further decline over the next 5-10 years.
