District Magnet

Program:

RecommendationsDevin Vodicka, EdD

March 14, 2013

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Superintendent’s Advisory

Committee: Magnet Schools• Purpose: The purpose of the committee is to make

recommendations to the Superintendent regarding current

and future magnet programs in VUSD.

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Committee Members

• Scott Sypkens, Facilitator, San Diego County

Office of Education

• Jeanie Luckey, Deputy Superintendent

• Donna Caperton, Assistant Supt., Business

Services

• Joe Green, Beaumont PTA

• Erin English, Foothill Oak Principal

• Emy Quiroz, Grapevine Parent

• Jenifer Golden, Mission Meadows Principal

• Amanda Roberts, Olive Teacher

• Catina Hancock, Vista Academy Principal

• Emily Garcia, Vista High School Student

• Eric Chagala, Vista High Asst Principal

• Jose Villarreal, Vista Magnet MS Principal

• Jayden Gilliam, Washington MS Student

• Anna Johnston, Vista Magnet MS Parent

• Ellen Crews, Washington Teacher

• Larry White, Executive Director, C & I

• Steve Hargrave, Director, Student Services

• Jennifer Gilstrap, Empresa Parent

• Tekoa Chilcote, Vista Academy Parent

• Barbara Franklin, VTA

• Adalia Lavado, Olive Principal

• Ron Briseno, Community Member, Vista

Chamber

• David Whiddon, Mission Vista HS Asst.

Principal

• Cecilia Sawyer, Lake Teacher

• Sharon Scott-Gonzalez, Vista Academy Teacher

• Laura Smith, Casita Principal

• Tara Biancamono, Mission Vista HS

• Craig Wiblemo, Mission Vista HS Principal

• Lisa Hoffman, CSEA

• Steve Post, Mission Vista HS Teacher

• Gail Cerelli, Casita Teacher 3

Meeting Dates & Location

• January 10, 2013 – Vista Magnet Middle School Library

• January 16, 2013 – Vista Magnet Middle School Library

• January 31, 2013 – Vista Magnet Middle School Library

• February 6, 2013 – Vista Magnet Middle School Library

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Advisory Committee Recommendation

to Superintendent

• The District Magnet Program Committee recommends to the

Superintendent the closure of the Vista Academy of

Visual/Performing Arts (VAVPA) middle school (grades 6-8)

effective at the end of the 2012-2013 school year.

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Rationale for Recommendation

• Site-based funding has been cut in half since 1992

• Facility needs are abundant

• School is in Year 5 of Program Improvement

• Fewer students are being drawn to the school

• Very few students are matriculating to Mission Vista HS

• Current K-8 configuration is the only one out of 32 sites in the

district

• Small number of students in grades 6-8 (approximately 300)

severely limits schedule flexibility

• Vision of the school needs to be refreshed

• Current K-5 program has been more successful in integrating

arts across the curriculum6

Superintendent’s Analysis

• Alignment with Framework for the Future:

• Vision, Mission, and Values

• Strategic fit with Goals

• Student achievement trends

• Enrollment patterns, Intra/Inter Transfers, and “Feeder” status

• Financial Analysis

• Facilities Impact

• Communications

• Next Steps

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Alignment with Framework for

Future• Vision: Vista Unified will be the model of educational

excellence and innovation

• Goal 1: We will attract and retain more students

• Analysis:

• Magnet school concept aligns wonderfully with our

Framework for the Future

• Current VAVPA model must change in order for us to move

in the direction of our vision and to achieve our first goal.

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VAVPA Student Achievement

Trends• Year 5 Program Improvement

• Academic Performance Index

Rankings (2011)

• Statewide Rank: 3 out of 10

• Similar Schools Rank: 3 out of 10

• English Language Arts proficiency has

improved since 2008

• Math and Science proficiency has

declined since 2008

• Source: California Department of

Education 9

Enrollment Patterns

• Source: California Department of Education

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Vista Academy Transfer Data

2011-12 2012-13 2013-2014*

18 7 1

Note: the transfer window

closes on March 31, 2013.

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Matriculation to Mission Vista

High School• Currently there are 59 students or 5% of the total student

population at Mission Vista High School(MVHS) that have

come from Vista Academy.

• Currently there are 206 students or 17.4% of the total student

population at Mission Vista High School that have come from

Vista Magnet Middle School (VMMS).

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Financial Analysis

• Current Middle School enrollment of 288 students generates 9.33 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Teachers

• General Fund actual FTE is 11

• With categorical funds, total FTE is 14

• Net difference of 4.67 FTE

• Approximate cost of 1.0 FTE is $75,000

• Total current additional investment of $350,250

• If staffed at 9.3 teachers:• 2 English

• 2 Math

• 2 Science

• 2 Social Studies

• 1 PE

• .3 for electives

• Conclusion: Current model is not cost effective; cost effective model is not instructionally effective 13

Magnets and Budget

• Current reality is that Mission Vista High School and Vista Magnet Middle School are budgeted to receive 15% additional teacher FTE as a result of their unique schedules.

• Mission Vista High School draws 256 students on interdistrict transfers as well as 100 students who live in Vista but previously went to private schools, generating almost $2 million in revenue to offset additional costs associated with their staffing model.

• Vista Magnet Middle is the first and only school to exceed 900 on the API and they draw 22 Students on an interdistrict transfer.

• Small size at VAVPA middle school has required additional investment of over $350,000 to run a comprehensive schedule for students. 14

Financial Sustainability

• Superintendent recommends budgeting 15% additional FTE

for every magnet school and allowing site to redirect the

equivalent amount of funding to support their magnet

programs

• Superintendent recommends that the effectiveness of the

magnet program be re-evaluated every 3 years based on two

criteria:

1. Student achievement improvement

2. Incoming transfer rate improvement

• Magnet schools not meeting criteria for improvement would

be at risk to lose additional funding to another site based on a

competitive “grant” process

• Estimated net impact to budget: $860,00015

Facilities Impact

• Current VAVPA 5th-7th grade enrollment includes:

• 12 students from Madison attendance area

• 33 students from Roosevelt attendance area

• 107 students from Rancho Minerva attendance area

• 154 students from Washington attendance area

• Vista Magnet Middle has capacity to absorb hundreds of

additional students

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Communications

• According to input from the Magnet Advisory Committee:

• Middle school parents are going from year-to-year, holding their breath asking themselves is this the year the district is going to close down the 6-8 program at VAVPA. Parents have known and heard the rumors for a few years now. Too much uncertainty.

• The Committee needs to work on supporting the other existing magnet schools with funding.

• Damage is being done by not having a well-rounded middle school program – it has hindered the high school transition.

• Superintendent meetings:

• All middle school principals on 3/7

• VAVPA staff on 3/8

• VAVPA parents on 3/12

• Principal communication to all staff and families 17

Next Steps:

Magnet Articulation (Option 1)

Elementary Middle High School

Casita STEM

Vista Magnet STEM

Mission Vista STEM

VAVPA ArtsWashington

ArtsMission

Vista Arts18

Magnet Articulation: Option 2

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Casita IB PYP STEM

VMMS IB MYP STEM

Vista HS or RBV HS IB MYP/DP

VAVPA IB PYP Arts

Washington IB MYP Arts

Vista HS or RBV HS IB MYP/DP

19PYP: Primary Years Programme (Grades K-5)

MYP: Middle Years Programme (Grades 6-10)

DP: Diploma Programme (Grades 11-12)

Superintendent’s

Recommendations1. Closure of the 6th-8th grade program at Vista Academy of

Visual and Performing Arts as of June 30, 2013

• Recommend that all current 5th-7th grade students/families at VAVPA be given an extended window through April 15th, 2013, to indicate their desired school of attendance.

• Recommend that every Middle School, including Vista Magnet Middle School, be available for this extended transfer window.

2. Recommend that 15% FTE adjustment be budgeted 2013-14 through 2015-16 at Casita, VAVPA, VMMS, and MVHS

• Recommend that 15% FTE adjustment also be budgeted beginning in 2014-15 for Washington Middle

3. Recommend that the Magnet Advisory Committee define articulated magnet pathways at dual elementary, dual middle, and dual magnet high school with targeted implementation in 2014-15.

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