K-5 Redistricting

January 19th, we communicated the decision to transition to four K-5 elementary buildings next year. This includes redistricting and changes of schools for students. We know that change brings uncertainty. Yet, we are confident that this change is best for the long-term success of the West Bloomfield School District. In order to help with this transition, we have a team planning spring events and activities that will help both students and staff get acclimated to their school for next year. Helping everyone feel comfortable with the transition is an essential part of this process. 

The purpose of this email is to provide some details about timelines, important dates, and other information families need to know about school placements.  The attached document includes information about the following:

• Redistricting Map

• Communication Timeline

  • Notification of placement for all students

  • When and how to request a change of placement

  • When the results of change of placement requests will be provided

• Programming by Elementary School

• Information about the Schools of Choice application window for new Schools of Choice students (those not currently enrolled in the district).

  • Please note that any current Schools of Choice family that wants to enroll another student (i.e. incoming kindergarten student) will need to apply, take the entrance test in February, and meet criteria before enrollment can occur. 

Thank you in advance for your support!

Sincerely,

WBSD Administration

Redistricting Map

Timeline for Placements (Current Residents & School of Choice Students)

• January 22nd: Communication via Email to All Current Families about Placement for 24-25 

• January 22nd: Change of Placement Request Forms Available (included in placement email)

• February 14th: Change of Placement Request Forms Due

• February 23rd: Determine and communication final placements for families that submitted a Change of Placement Request Form

Programming by K-5 Elementary School

Doherty Elementary School

• Kindergarten Prep
• K-5 with Specialized STEAM Programming*
• Special Education Program: Students with Cognitive Impairment
• Special Education Program: STEPS Program
• West Bloomfield Preschool (6 classes)

Sheiko Elementary School

• K-5 with Specialized STEAM Programming*
• Special Education Program: Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Special Education Program: Level Program

Gretchko Elementary School

• K-5 with Specialized STEAM Programming*
• Special Education Program: Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
• West Bloomfield Preschool (2 classes)

Scotch Elementary School

• Kindergarten Prep
• K-5 with Specialized STEAM Programming
• Magnet
• Special Education Program: Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Special Education Program: Level Program

*STEAM programming and experiences will be available to residents and Schools of Choice students.  All students will need to meet specific criteria to have access to this programming. For current students, we will use the results of our NWEA testing to help determine who meets criteria.  All incoming resident kindergarten students, meanwhile, will take a Kindergarten Readiness/ STEAM assessment later this spring to determine who meets criteria for this programming.

New / Interested K-5 School of Choice Student Information

Schools of Choice applications are open to incoming K-5 students for the 24-25 school year. 

• Applications for NEW Schools of Choice students are due February 14th.
• Students must meet specific academic and behavioral criteria in order to be considered. 
• Additionally, there will be a lottery for students that meet criteria to determine acceptance.
• Students will be placed on a waitlist if they meet criteria but do not earn an immediate spot due to the lottery.
• If accepted, students will have access to a high quality West Bloomfield School District education, including a unique set of STEAM learning experiences through our STEAM program.

Interested families can visit wbsd.org to learn more about Schools of Choice. When visiting the site, they should go to the SOC tab at the top of the wbsd.org website. 

Important Note: 

Any student not currently enrolled in the West Bloomfield School District must apply for Schools of Choice on or before February 14th in order to be considered for acceptance and enrollment. This includes any student NOT currently enrolled in the district that has a sibling in the district through Schools of Choice. Current Schools of Choice students do not need to submit another application. Here are some examples to illustrate:

• “My current 4th grade child is in the district through Schools of Choice.  She has a sibling that is going into Kindergarten next year.  Does the Kindergarten student have to apply?”

  • Yes

• “My current 2nd grade child is in the district through Schools of Choice. He has a sibling that is going into 5th grade next year and not currently in the district. Does the 5th grade student have to apply?”

  • Yes

• “My current Kindergarten student is already in the district through Schools of Choice.  Does she have to apply again?”

  • No

Expectations for Schools of Choice STEAM candidates include the following:

• Oakland County resident
• Strong grades/standards scores in the four core content areas (Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science)
• A positive discipline report, with no suspensions in the previous two years
• A strong score on the Kindergarten STEAM Assessment / NWEA MAP Growth Reading Assessment (grades 1-5)

STEAM Programming in K-5

Students will be introduced to STEAM learning experiences through the Project Lead the Way curriculum. This sets the stage for high quality Project Lead the Way STEAM courses in middle school and high school in the West Bloomfield School District.  

1/18/24

Dear WBSD Families,

When the Board of Education approved the Strategic Visioning Committee recommendation that included redistricting and elementary reconfiguration, the administration promised to bring back a plan for implementation by the end of January. The Strategic Visioning Committee met this week to discuss and provide feedback on the logistics for implementing the approved plan either during the upcoming 2024-25 school year or the following year. They were encouraged to ask difficult questions and provide recommendations on timing. There are some questions we do not have answers for yet, but will as this process unfolds. Here is what we know now.

This process will begin immediately. This means several changes will take place that impact our students, staff, and families.

• Roosevelt Elementary will close at the end of this (2023-24) school year.
• The Board approved K-5 Elementary redistricting boundaries will take effect for the 2024-25 school year (starting next fall).
• The newly redistricted Sheiko Elementary will move into the Abbott building for two years (2024-26) while their new building is constructed.
• The Magnet Program will move to Scotch.
• As Sheiko needs a large portion of the Abbott building, central office will move to Abbott during the 2026-27 school year. The technology department will move this year to make room for more preschool classrooms at ACS.

To facilitate these changes:

• Resident and current School of Choice families will be placed according to the new district map, and have until February 14 to submit a change of placement form. Those who request a change will be notified on February 23 if their request can be accommodated.
• New School of Choice applications are due by February 14, with the lottery on February 21. New SOC applicants will be notified by February 26th and must complete enrollment by March 15th.
• Student placement must occur before bus routes and bell schedules can be finalized.
• Full inventories are being conducted at each site to ensure when school starts in the fall students have what they need for a successful learning environment. This includes desks, chairs, playground equipment, and curricular materials.

We recognize there is significant impact for each building, and each family has unique concerns, questions, and ideas to help facilitate a smooth transition for students, staff, and families. If you have questions or ideas to help with the transition please email james.stottlemyer@wbsd.org or rebecca.fannon@wbsd.org.

With change comes complexity and challenges, but we will work through it together. These changes make it possible for us to focus funding on the people and programs that make WBSD a great district. We can and will navigate through this transition together and we look forward to implementing your ideas throughout that process. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we move forward together.

In Partnership,

Dr. Dania H. Bazzi

Superintendent

Fewer transitions allow more time for students and families to acclimate and get involved.

Upper elementary students in poverty had statistically significantly higher reading and math passing rates in elementary schools with more grade levels, than schools with fewer grade levels. https://drive.google.com/file/d/11isphkKTqRwod39M1SgXIw9RX0lOL-70/view 

Across the nation K-6 is the most common elementary configuration. In Oakland County, the most common is K-5 (88% of districts).

• Streamlined logistics for parents and guardians with multiple children
• Consistency of calendars and school events
• Fewer transitions for students
• Families have opportunity to become more vested in their elementary school (example: 1 PTO), and have opportunities to build stronger communities and a sense of belonging
• Obviously difficult for our Roosevelt families, but all schools are impacted by changing borders
• The Strategic Visioning team made a concerted effort to keep neighborhoods together with the current proposal so students who live near each other attend the same school (borders on main roads)

• Long-term sustainable model for the district as enrollment is projected to decline due to lower birth rates
• Keeps funding focused on the people and programs that make WBSD an amazing school district
• K-5 model reduces transportation costs as buses don’t navigate between two elementary schools

Once a student becomes a part of the West Bloomfield School District through the school of choice program, they are a WBSD student and no distinction is made. The placement of these students in specific programming will be contingent upon the redistricting process, which we will continue working on with a consultant. Here is what we know now about how School of Choice students will be placed in schools:

1. Siblings will be grouped together and placed at the same school.
2. The intent is to group siblings where the oldest sibling is currently attending.
3. As much as possible, siblings will be placed at a school that is geographically closer to their home. For example, a Waterford SoC student will likely be placed at Gretchko or Scotch.
4. Placement at which North (Gretchko/Scotch) or South (Sheiko/Doherty) school will be based on a random lottery system.
5. When a North/South geographic placement is not possible due to space constraints, SoC student(s) will be placed in the school that has space available.

The redistricting will affect many of our families, including those who previously attended Roosevelt Elementary. Based on the preliminary plans, it is likely that most school-of-choice students who would have attended Roosevelt will hopefully be placed at Gretchko or Scotch Elementary Schools. However, we anticipate having more detailed information and a clearer picture of the placements early in the new year.

We value your commitment to your child's education and are dedicated to making this transition as smooth as possible for all families involved. Rest assured that we will keep you informed as the redistricting process progresses, and we will be available to address any further questions or concerns you may have.

• Enrollment Balance (including Historical & Projected Enrollment and School Capacity)
• Travel Time
• Keeping Neighborhoods Together (Borders on Main Roads)
• Long-term sustainability and fiscal responsibility
• What’s best for kids - fewer transitions, equitable opportunities, family engagement

The district worked with a consultant used both 2022-23 and 2023-24 actual student housing data to analyze multiple redistricting scenarios.

85% allows room for growth and flexibility.

• Over the past three years, Oakland County K-12 public school enrollment has fallen by 9,664 students.
• Statewide, enrollment dropped over 60,000 students.
• Michigan birth rates have dropped:
  • 1990: 153,000
  • 2016: 114,000
• WBSD has lost 10.8% over the last 5 years.
• WBSD is projected to lose another 11.51% in the next 5 years.
• People are having fewer children later in life. 
• Michigan’s tax structure is not designed for downsizing so people are aging in place.
• WBSD is not alone in this demographic trend.

Click here to see a simple flowchart that will outline the process if the board approves redistricting at its regular, televised December meeting.

If the board approves the redistricting and SoC plan in December, here is the proposed timeline of key events for our current families:

• Current Residents will be notified mid-January of K-5 redistricting placement
• Current School of Choice families will be notified mid-January of K-5 redistricting and will receive notification of placement in February. Once a student is accepted into WBSD, they are our student and there will be a place for them here

For future School of Choice students (if approved by the board in December):

• The application window will be January 22-February 20
• The testing window will be late February-Mid March
• Notification for new SoC students will be based on the number of spaces the Board approves, students meeting criteria, and a lottery for position
• Future SoC students that meet criteria and have siblings currently in the district get preference in the lottery. If they meet criteria, the district’s intent is to place the student at his/her sibling’s school placement if there is space

We are working on a plan and will have this information shortly.

The Magnet program will be located at Scotch.

The plan is to have preschool available at ACS and Doherty.

Yes. More on that when busing info is available mid-March

Academic and social activities are already being planned to coordinate between elementary buildings. This will help students get to know students and staff from the other schools before the redistricting. PTOs have been very supportive in this, and will be planning events together to cultivate that sense of belonging for students, staff and families. We welcome your ideas. These activities will continue through the spring, summer and fall.