HomeMy WebLinkAbout924 - REGARDING the City's position on the BVSD's proposed school closures & consolidations. AmendRESOLUTION NO. _924_
RESOLU'I'ION TO ADVISE THE BOULDER VALLEY SCIIOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF
EDUCTION REGARDING POTENTIAL SCHOOL CLOSURES AND CONSOLIDATONS
WHEREAS, The City of Boulder recognizes Boulder's schools to be at the very heart of the city.
Schools, public schools in particular, rellect our commitment to the future. Public schools are uot
jlist the concern of families with school age children, but rather a broad-Uased public concern
that touches everyone living in our community; and
WHER~AS, the Boulder City Council commends the Boulder Valley School District on mauy
years of academic excellence and public service. The Boulder City Council also commends our
community for its long history of support for excellent public schools; and
WHEREAS, The City of Boulder is proud of the existing system of neighborhood schools that
reflects the community's values. Many children can walk to their neighborliood school, reducing
traffic congestion and protecting air quality.
Neighborhood schools can be small, providing a more accessible learning experience.
Neighborhood schools are diverse, exposing ow• children to different cultures aud ethnicities.
Neighborhood schools are also high-performers - students at Boulder's schools consistently
suipass those at other Colorado schools; and
WHEREAS, The City CoLmcil acknowYedges that state law requires school districts to offer open
enrollment, but is concerned about the long-term effects of such policies, as they are leading
toward a socially, economically, vid ethnically segregated school system.
WHEREAS, the City CoLmcil adopted Resolution 902 in March, 2002 that:
1. Reconfirms its commitment to neighbarhood schools as the core of the Boulder Valley
School District
2. Requests that the School Districf consider policies thaC will support neighborhood schools
and limit Clie number of students who open enroll
3. States tl~e City of Boulder's willingness to work with the district to seek ways to reduce
the amount of students who open enroll or mitigate the transportaCion, safety and other
problems that come with open enrollment
4. Requests that the School Board ask all focus and charter schools to give au enrollment
priority for students who live within a designated neighborhood surrounding each school.
WHF,REAS, Policies 3.21 and 3.22 of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan state that the city
shali:
1. Consider transportation impacts when planuing for school sites and facilities.
2. Work with the Boulder Valley School District when practicaUle, to cooperatively plan for
joint facilities and shared use ofparkland, recreation and outdoar facilities, meeting
rooms and classrooms, branch libraries and other facilities.
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3. Work with the Boulder Valley School District to develop safe, convenient pedestrian,
bicycle, and transit access for students to existing and new schools.
WHEREAS, the City of Boulder is willing to work with the School District to continue city
funding of crossing guards, family resource schools, high frequency transit, and transportation
infrastructure near schools: and
WHEREAS, the Boulder Valley School District is facing several fiscal and programmatic
challenges related to declining enrollment, excess capacity, and increasing ethic and socio-
economic stratification within the district;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Boulder City Council recommends that the
Boulder Valley School District Board of Education, in considering potential school closure and
consolidation, shall consider the following criteria and seek to minimize impacts to the
community:
1. Ensure a strong_system of neighborhood schools as the foundation of a school service
delivery system.
2. Keep a good geographic distribution of school facilities conveniently located to serve the
population in the long term that enables safe, convenient pedestrian, bicycle, and transit
access by student.
3. Protect the schools and programs that have a good ethnic/socio-economic balance and
consider the impact of proposed changes on further stratification.
4. Minimize disruption to the community that will be a part of any school change, as
measured by the number of families affected.
5. Do not add capacity to focus ~ rg ams at the expense of neighborhood schools.
6. Consider the transportation impacts of any proposed consolidations or closures.
The City Council asks the BVSD to work with the city of Boulder to evaluate opportunities to
use the Education Excise Tax funds and/or house community activities in schools in order to
make it financially more feasible to allow schools to stay open.
RESOLVED this 4th day of March, 2003.
Mayor
Attest: _ ~ _ '
City Clerk on behalf o the Director of
Finance and Reco
Appr ved By:
rank Brun
City Manager
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