New Survey Launched February 27th – Feedback on 1st Draft Geographic Boundaries – Survey Closes March 5
AB Forward Family Webinar Summary (February 27)
Recently, Superintendent Peter Light hosted a family webinar to update the community on the AB Forward elementary school reorganization. This transition will shift our district from open enrollment to geographic-based school assignments, creating five newly organized elementary school programs.
We recognize that this transition is causing frustration and anxiety for many families. Based on recent parent surveys, your top concerns are student well-being, academic quality, and teacher retention.
Here are the most important takeaways and action steps from the webinar:
- Geographic School Zones: We are working with a consultant to create the new school boundary maps. The initial draft maps are currently being revised based on community feedback. Before the final School Committee vote in April, parents will have access to an interactive map to easily look up their exact school assignment.
- Supporting Student Friendships: To help kids adjust, we will survey families to identify important friendships. Our teachers will then use this feedback to build new classroom groups that keep key friends together. We are also planning summer meetups and orientation events.
- Academic Consistency: While students and teachers are moving, our core curriculum is already standardized across the entire district. All schools will also use a consistent report card next year. Unfortunately, due to ongoing district budget shortages, class sizes will be increasing.
- Teacher Placements: We expect to finalize where our core classroom educators will be teaching by March 30th.
We are committed to keeping you informed every step of the way. Please look out for upcoming surveys to share your thoughts on the revised geographic boundaries.
Detailed Meeting Notes and Q&A for this webinar can be found below in the Webinar Section of the AB forward site or the webinar may be viewed here.
Community Wellness Information
We have a variety of resources to support students, staff, and families. We encourage you to visit our AB Forward Community Wellness Page for more information.
The next family webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10th and more details and a link to attend the meeting will be provided by the district.