Story by Sara Musgrove:  Project Neighborhood: realigning Brownwood ISD primary campuses to provide services from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade within neighborhood elementaries. In the fall of 2019, BISD began discussions with staff, parents, and community members, ensuring primary grade programs will maximize student achievement while continuing to offer a nurturing, student-centered neighborhood experience. The proposed changes move Head Start (pre-kindergarten) onto four elementary campuses including Coggin Intermediate School. Coggin would become a full neighborhood elementary school offering grades from pre-k through sixth grade. East, Northwest, and Woodland Heights elementary schools would house pre-k to fifth grade.

“We have had discussions about how best to organize our campuses since the fall of 2019,” said BISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Young. “COVID certainly shifted our focus, but it also made it even more critical to ensure we provide our students and staff with the best structure for success.” After months of discussions with parents, staff, and administrators, and work from task forces ironing out logistics, an actionable plan for Project Neighborhood has taken shape. Utilizing software that takes into consideration school capacities, area demographics, and current student data, new elementary attendance zones have been calculated for the 2022-2023 school year. Drafts of the updated elementary zone maps will be available for the public to see at the upcoming neighborhood meetings:  Tuesday, February 22, 2022 at Woodland Heights Elementary at 5:30 p.m., and Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at BISD Central Support Center at 6:30 p.m. Parents are encouraged to attend one of the meetings. Each will feature the same presentation and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, meet with administrators, and receive helpful information regarding Project Neighborhood.

With the new boundaries, BISD has also taken into account the importance of transfers and giving parents a choice if their student(s) have been attending a particular school but are zoned to a different elementary. Transfer requests will be accepted in April. All transfers into and within BISD must reapply, including teacher and staff children. “This timeline will be even more important this year,” Young said. “Transfers received from existing students and siblings will be given higher priority. Between April 1 and April 15, we have a Priority 1 transfer window where we can consider moving teacher units between campuses if transfers make the most sense for students. After April 15, teaching units for each campus will be solidified, and transfers will only be approved if space is available.” Transfer requests will be available on the district website.

Another element included with these transitions is the evolving of Head Start into BISD Pre-K. Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, the BISD Pre-K program will accept three and four-year-old children. It will maintain the same qualification process and there will be limited space available. In-person pre-registration events will be held Tuesday, April 5 (11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.), and Wednesday, April 6 (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) at BISD Central Support Center (2707 Southside Drive). All applications must be completed in person.

As the district continues to seek improvement and provide an excellent environment for students to learn and grow, they recognize both the benefits of change and the challenges involved. Project Neighborhood creates certain benefits, such as younger students stay on their neighborhood campus longer, parent involvement opportunities increase, parents travel less, and students grow as leaders on a familiar campus. Project Neighborhood also allows for better curriculum collaboration between grade levels and academic growth with more grades assessed per campus. Some challenges include the moving around of equipment such as desks, chairs, books, supplies, and staff, such as teachers, nurses, and aides. Playground equipment, bathroom facilities, and busing are some other elements to work through. As for curriculum, facilities, and equipment, BISD will need to reallocate those, and task forces have been working to provide solutions. “Task forces have already coordinated on creating inventories at all campuses. We’ve identified needs and funding opportunities,” Young said. “Any items that need to be purchased will be bought shortly after Board approval.” Task forces will continue working to explore possible challenges and find solutions so that Brownwood students experience an environment of success.

“A goal without a plan is just a wish,” Young said. “We need to have a plan to have better schools for our kids. We love our kids and want the best for them.” Everyone is encouraged to provide ideas through participation in upcoming informational meetings, emailing public.info@brownwoodisd.org, or contacting their neighborhood school principal. Project Neighborhood will be presented to the BISD Board of Trustees at the March 14th meeting for final approval. Find out more at https://www.brownwoodisd.org/projectneighborhood.