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Information Item
DATE: Tuesday, October 18, 2016
TO: School Board Members
FROM: Jeff Eakins, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Stowers Elementary Reassignment and Related Issues Update
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

On March 29, 2016, the School Board approved an attendance boundary change reassigning students from Stowers Elementary to Bevis and Pinecrest Elementary Schools. All parties were aware that this was only a partial solution and that at the start of the 2016-17 School Year staff would continue to evaluate solutions to relieve the overcrowding at Stowers.  Last year staff projected that Stowers Elementary, after the boundary change, would be between 101% - 115% FISH utilization for the 2016-17 school year.   Per the 20th day enrollment count Stowers Elementary is at 111% FISH utilization.  Staff continues to monitor growth and enrollments at Stowers as well as at the other elementary schools in the surrounding region, many of which are also at or over capacity. This general area, including Fishhawk West and many other new communities comprise one of the fastest growing areas in the Tampa Bay area.   

Staff has been reviewing solutions to the general capacity shortage in the region and the solution will rely on two new elementary schools that are planned in the south Hillsborough County area:  Elementary “C” had already been planned to open in 2017-18 (located in Triple Creek Subdivision, but as the 5-Year Facilities Work Plan was developed this summer, another school, Elementary “D”, was added to provide additional capacity in this region.  Elementary “D” is scheduled to open in 2018-19.  The site has yet to be selected, but staff is actively pursuing leads for properties on which to site Elementary “D”.  Once located, staff will develop proposed attendance boundaries for both Elementary “C” and Elementary “D” using the 40th day enrollment count to relieve schools in this area.  After the scenarios are created, staff will hold internal stakeholder and public/parent meetings for input, anticipated to occur in November/December. 

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Engage and communicate with families and stakeholders • Establish a strong foundation of financial stewardship • Construct and maintain facilities that create an environment conducive to teaching and learning
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  No)
EVALUATION
SUBMITTED BY:  Lorraine Duffy Suarez, General Manager, Growth Mgmt. & Planning
Christopher Farkas   Dr. Alberto Vázquez
Chief Operating Officer
813-272-4004
  Chief of Staff
(813) 272-4986
    C 13.04
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20161018_767 (Board Meeting) * Section C Item# 13.04