Business and Non-Instructional Operations

3600

Business and Non-Instructional Operations

SCHOOL CLOSING, CONSOLIDATION, AND RELOCATION POLICY

In its role of ensuring high quality education for all students, tThe Hartford Board of Education shall determine appropriate school facilities for the students of the Hartford Public Schools in accordance with its statutory obligations. In making such determinations, the Hartford Board of Education shall consider the district’s strategic operating plan, the comprehensive long range facilities plan, and/or any recommendations regarding the organization and consolidation of schools, school buildings, facilities, and/or grade levels made by a committee of the Board of Education. Such recommendations shall, as appropriate, be informed by an ad hoc committee representative of both internal and external stakeholders, which committee members shall be appointed by the Superintendent or his/her designee. The ad hoc committee shall, as part of its initial work, establish the specific school and facility review criteria, determine the stakeholder engagement and communications plan, and develop the committee work and recommendations timeline.

Any final decisions concerning the organization and consolidation of schools, school buildings, facilities, and/or grade levels shall be made by a vote of the Board. Such action by the Board must be taken before the end of a school year and allow at least 90 days for school transition. Further, school transitions shall only take place immediately prior to a new school year and fully effective upon the opening of schools.

If the Board of Education determines that a building operated and maintained by the Hartford Public Schools should be retired from use, by operation of law the control of such building shall return to the City of Hartford or appropriate entity.

In the event the Board votes to close, consolidate, or relocate a school or a physical school building, the Board shall review and consider the establishment of a school transition committee, which committee members shall be appointed by the Superintendent or his/her designee. The school transition committee shall endeavor to effectively communicate with the school community and public concerning the school closure, consolidation, or relocation transition, coordinate the school closing, consolidation, or relocation logistics, and establish recommendations for supports and assistance needed.

In the event that an unusual or emergency situation arises requiring the immediate relocation of a school, the Board delegates the decision authority to the Superintendent of Schools and requires the Superintendent to provide timely updates and information to the Board regarding the situation as well as short term and long term recommendations for Board consideration and action as appropriate.

The Board delegates authority to close, consolidate, or relocate district or school programs to the Superintendent of Schools.

The Superintendent shall update the Board regarding schools housed in temporary locations due to construction, incubation, or unusual or emergency situations annually.

For the purposes of this policy, the following definitions apply:

School:

School Building/Facility:

District/School Program:

Other?

The Board delegates authority to the Superintendent of Schools to develop administrative regulations in accordance with this policy.

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Legal References:

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-220

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-240

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-241

Policy adopted: February 4, 2003 HARTFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Policy revised: September __ 2016 Hartford, Connecticut

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R-3600

Business and Non-Instructional Operations

SCHOOL CLOSING, CONSOLIDATION, AND RELOCATION

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS

In its role of ensuring high quality education for all students, Tthe Hartford Board of Education shall determine appropriate school facilities for the students of the Hartford Public Schools in accordance with its statutory obligations. In making such determinations, the Hartford Board of Education shall consider the district’s strategic operating plan, the comprehensive long range facilities plan, and/or any recommendations regarding the organization and consolidation of schools, school buildings, facilities, and/or grade levels made by a committee of the Board of Education. Such recommendations shall, as appropriate, be informed by an ad hoc committee representative of both internal and external stakeholders, which committee members shall be appointed by the Superintendent or his/her designee.

I. Board Committees on School Closing/Consolidation

In the event the Board or Board committee designates an ad hoc committee for purposes of determining appropriate school facilities within the Hartford Public Schools, such committee shall be charged with making recommendations regarding the organization and consolidation of schools, school buildings, facilities, and/or grade levels.

In making its recommendations to the Board regarding the organization and consolidation of schools, school buildings, facilities, and/or grade levels, the committee shall consider the following review criteriaareas:

1. Academic: Such as, but not limited to, school academic performance, the need for robust educational programming, and opportunities for academic programming and partnerships;

2. Non-Academic: Such as, but not limited to, safety, building conditions and capacities, and opportunities for programming and partnerships that provide supports and resources for student success;

3. Systemic: Such as, but not limited to, enrollment trends, equity amongst the district’s student populations, alternative educational programs, construction and/or renovation projects, and budgetary considerations.

The ad hoc committee shall establish a plan to engage the broader community in order to receive input, establish a timeline for recommendations, and endeavor to effectively communicate with the school community and public concerning the committee’s work. Such plan shall be made publicly available and include a variety of communications and engagement strategies.

In addition, the ad hoc committee shall fulfill any additional obligations as may be required by the Superintendent or his/her designee. The final recommendations of the ad hoc committee shall be shared with the Board and/or Board Committee as designated.

In the event the Board votes to close, consolidate, or relocate a school or a physical school building, the Board shall review and consider the establishment of a school transition committeeteam shall be established, which committee team members shall be appointed by the Superintendent or his/her designee. The school transition committee team shall endeavor to effectively communicate with the school community and public concerning the school closure, consolidation, or relocation transition, coordinate the school closing, consolidation, or relocation logistics, and establish recommendations for supports and assistance needed.

II. Temporary Shutdown Suspension of School Building Operations School Buildings Due to Construction

Any school building that is operated and maintained by the school district may have a temporary suspension of operations be temporarily shutdown for construction activities if the long range facilities plan or the school district’s strategic operating plan contains a major addition and/or renovation project for the school and the following conditions apply:

1. The conditions in the building require improvement, modification or expansion to meet programmatic or code related issues.

2. A set of educational specifications has been developed for the project work and they have been approved by the Board of Education

3. A school construction grant application has been reviewed and approved by the Connecticut State Department of Education's School Facilities Unit.

4. A grant commitment letter has been issued to the City of Hartford by the State of Connecticut.

5. Full funding for the project work has been authorized and the Common Council has approved an appropriation for the total cost of the project work.

6. The Hartford School Building Committee has determined that the project budget can support the cost of temporary space to relocate students to another location.

7. The Hartford Board of Education has determined the best possible interests of students, parents, and staff will be served by relocating programs to temporary space to allow construction to occur.

8. The parents and community are advised of the suspension of operations construction shutdown as soon as practicable prior to the date students and staff are moved to a temporary space, realizing the complexity and hardship this will bring to all involved.

9. The parents and community are provided with a timeline of construction activities that defines all the critical items in the construction project and the anticipated date when the school will be ready for occupancy.

In the event the Board votes to temporarily suspend the operations shutdown aof school facility for construction activities, a school transition committee team shall be established and transition plan developed and published as soon as practicable prior to suspension of operationsthe construction shutdown. The plan will shall detail the location where the programs and services will be provided and provide a timeline for the construction activities including the anticipated reopening date. The school transition committee team shall endeavor to effectively communicate with the school community and public throughout the relocation transitions and construction period, coordinate relocation logistics, and establish recommendations for supports and assistance needed.

As early as possible prior to occupancy, parents and the community will be notified of the reopening of the renovated facility. A reopening transition plan with the actual move-in date shall be developed by the transition committee.

The Superintendent shall update the Board regarding schools housed in temporary locations due to construction, incubation, or unusual or emergency situations annually.

A school construction shutdown may last between one and two academic school years depending on the complexity of the project work. Construction projects lasting more than two academic school years shall be considered a school closure and subject to policy relating to school closure.

Legal Reference:

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-220

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-240

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-241

Regulations adopted: February 4, 2003 HARTFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Regulations revised: September ___, 2016 Hartford, Connecticut

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