PROYECTO CAMINO A LA GRANDEZA Propone Consolidar Escuelas Públicas

(Oklahoma City, OK) – Durante el último año, las escuelas públicas de Oklahoma City han avanzado con el proyecto «camino a la grandeza» siguiendo su compromiso por reinventir en el Distrito.   "Nuestra mayor prioridad debe servir equitativamente a nuestros estudiantes y garantizar el acceso a oportunidades educativas y más servicios de apoyo, independientemente de su código postal.

Creemos que este trabajo permitirá a nuestros estudiantes alcanzar la visión  de cada estudiante de OKCPS para graduarse listos para cumplir su único propósito en una comunidad saludable y vibrante."

El pasado Martes el Superintendente de OKCPS Sean McDaniel compartido las tres opciones para el camino a la grandeza (P2G) con la Junta de Educación de OKCPS y la comunidad en un auditorio lleno en North East Academy.

El resultado del proyecto camino a la grandeza va afectar a cada estudiantede OKCPS, miembro del personal y familia a través de cambios propuestos que incluyen: nuevas fronteras de la escuelas, consolidaciones de escuelas o cierres, cambios de limite de grado o cambio a la manera en que se encuentran estructurados las escuelas elementarias, Media y Secundaria, así como edificios escolares van a modificarse para satisfacer otras necesidades de la comunidad. Funcionarios del Distrito revelaron tres opciones que tienen la intención de llevarse a cabo, en las que se podían cerrar de 15 a 18 escuelas.

Líderes del distrito indicaron que uno de los beneficios asociados con el camino a la grandeza, los estudiantes tendrán acceso a más oportunidades de aprendizaje, así como también apoyo social como consejeros. Los Profesores recibirán se beneficiarán al tener clases más pequeñas en los grados K al 6. 

El equipo que forma parte del Proyecto a la grandeza estará trabajando con socios de la comunidad que deseen utilizar los edificios para centros de salud comunitarios, centros infantiles y otras clases de activos positivos a nuestros vecindarios.

La opción A y B, propone cerrar 15 escuelas y los edificios serían utilizados para otros usos como centros comunitarios, centros infantiles, o por el Departamento de salud del Condado de Oklahoma City.

"Ruta C" propone cerrar 18 escuelas dejando los edificios para ser reusados para otros servicios en benficio de la comunidad. Bajo los tres planes, otras escuelas reabriraán para servir a nuevos niveles de grado, dependiendo de la opción elegida. Zonas de asistencia y los patrones de alimentación podría cambiar también según los planes.

Tras la publicación de las opciones camino a la grandeza, Superintendente McDaniel alentó a la comunidad a participar: "lo más importante, queremos oír de usted. Nos puede proporcionar con sus comentarios al asistir a una reunión de la comunidad, comunicandose con uno de nuestros miembros del Consejo, me puede enviar correo electrónico directamente (superintendent@okcps.org) o proporcionando un Comentario en línea."

Oklahoma City.-For the last year, Oklahoma City Public Schools have been moving forward on the "Pathway to Greatness" as they follow through on a commitment to reinvent the District.  

“Our highest priority must be serving our students equitably and ensuring access to more educational opportunities and support services -- regardless of their zip code. We believe this work will enable our students to achieve the OKCPS vision of every student graduating ready to fulfill their unique purpose in a healthy, vibrant community.” 

Tuesday OKCPS Superintendent Sean McDaniel shared the three options for the Pathway to Greatness (P2G) with the OKCPS Board of Education and the community in a packed auditorium at Northeast Academy. 

The outcome of the Pathway to Greatness project is slated to impact every OKCPS student, staff member and family via proposed changes which include: new school boundaries, school consolidations or closures, changes to grade bands or the way grades are structured for Elementary, Middle and High School, as well as school buildings being repurposed to meet other needs in the community. Disrict officials released three options it intends to move forward with, under which 15 or 18 schools could be closed. 

OKCPS will begin hosting community meetings where they will share the three options and continue to gather input from families, staff and the community. On February 19, Superintendent McDaniel will make a final recommendation on a path forward for OKCPS to the Board, and the Board will take action at their business meeting on March 4.

Following the release of the paths, Superintendent McDaniel encouraged the community to get involved: “Most importantly, we want to hear from you. You can provide us with you feedback by attending a community meeting, reaching out to one of our board members, emailing me directly (superintendent@okcps.org) or by providing a comment online.”  

Community Meetings:  

• January 23 | US Grant High School | 6 pm 
• January 24 | US Grant High School | 6 pm *Presented in Spanish 
• January 28 | Star Spencer High School | 6 pm 
• January 29 | Douglass High School | 6 pm 
• January 30 | NW Classen High School | 6 pm 

District leaders indicate that through the trade-ups associated with the Pathway to Greatness, students will have access to more learning opportunities, as well as added social supports like counselors. Teachers will be better supported too with trade-ups like smaller class sizes in grades K to 6th. Teams will also be working to match community partners who wish to use repurposed buildings for community health centers, early childhood centers, and other kinds of positive assets to our neighborhoods. 

Under the first two path, A and B, 15 schools would be close and buildings be re-purposed for such uses as community centers, early childhood centers, or for use by the Oklahoma City County Health Department .

“Path C” calls for 18 schools to be closed a re-purposed. Under all three plans, other schools would re-open, serving new grade levels, depending on the option chosen. Attendance zones, and feeder patterns would also change under the plans.

Supt McDaniel said “Regardless of out the outcome of Pathway to Greatness work, I hope you will rest assured that OKCPS will continue to serve every child,” . “New school boundaries will simply mean neighbors coming together in new ways to support their schools, and I hope that our communities will embrace the opportunities and possibilities that the Pathway to Greatness offers. We must continue to have open-minded, engaged families and community members with us at every step in this process in order to create the best possible future for all OKCPS students. I encourage our staff and our families to come together to build strong schools, whether that is in your current building or in a new one.” 

Looking ahead , he went on to say: “Although the next few months will be challenging and change is certain, the Board and I are confident that this work is necessary to improve the health of the entire OKCPS system and to provide equity and opportunity for our students. Now more than ever, we must all come together and focus on the future. Our students deserve it and our city's long-term success depends on it.”