LOGISTICS (Facility, Operations, Schedules, etc.)

When will Coyote Ridge be open for students?

• The project is currently on target for completion in approximately January 2024. The contractor has been challenged with labor and supply chain issues. Unforeseen conditions can also add to delays in project completion. In an effort to minimize learning disruptions that could be caused by a mid-year transition, the district plans to open the school in August 2024 and proceed with planning phases along the way to prepare for its opening.

What schools will contribute to the K-6 feeder pattern for Coyote Ridge?

• When the long-term master plan was approved, four elementary schools were slated to transition to a K-4 school. Based on capacity issues, these schools were Davis, Hobbs, Jessup and Prairie Wind. However, we have seen a decrease in enrollment and foresee space available for other elementary schools in the Central Triad to Boundary Waive students to Coyote Ridge.

• The space vacated at the feeder schools will be occupied by K-4 students in the fall to move closer to the state-mandated 16:1 K- 3 ratio and to try to bring forced out K-4 students back to their neighborhood schools. This will also allow schools to forego the use of modular classrooms not connected with the main buildings.

• The district’s master facility plan was approved over 10 years ago to include the fifth and sixth grade (5-6) model to reduce capacity issues, as well as address instructional improvements and facility replacement and renovation plans.

Will transportation be provided to Coyote Ridge?

• ·Yes. The transportation/bus route plan will be similar to the current transportation schedule. The new routing plan is currently in development and will be communicated in the spring and summer of 2024.

How will transportation run at the new school, and where will pick up and drop offs occur?

• Transportation will remain consistent with services being provided to all other LCSD1 elementary schools.

• Neighborhood bus stops will remain consistent.

Will students who live close to Coyote Ridge walk or be bussed to Coyote Ridge?

• Although all students attending Coyote Ridge will be provided with the opportunity for transportation, safe walk routes will be developed for those who live in close proximity to the new school. Walk routes are established under state guidelines which consider a combination of safety conditions and walking distances to the school. A detailed transportation plan will be communicated. In some instances, students may choose to ride their current bus to their K-4 neighborhood school and then ride the transfer bus to Coyote Ridge Elementary.

Will Coyote Ridge Elementary have different start and end times?

• The expectation is that Coyote Ridge start and end times will match Meadowlark Elementary. The district plan anticipates a 10-15 minute variance with the majority of elementary schools to allow older siblings to stay together with their younger siblings. We anticipate the start time to be about 8:20 a.m. and dismissal about 3:20 p.m. However, we may need to adjust this due to transportation routes when student registration is complete.

Will the students have lockers?

• No. Design guidelines are dictated by the State of Wyoming. The classroom design for Coyote Ridge is very similar to schools recently opened around the district. Students will have cubbies for coats and personal effects.

• Special consideration for band and orchestra instrument storage has been included into the design.

Will the feeder school boundaries remain the same or change?

• With the multiyear transition in opening Coyote Ridge Elementary, there will be no boundary changes for the 2023-2024 school year. Over the course of the next several months, a Boundary Advisory Committee will study impacts of new housing developments and shifts in population densities in this part of the Central Triad to determine if feeder school boundaries (K-4 schools) may require changes. The flexibility of additional capacity at Coyote Ridge (550 students) should reduce the likelihood of changing attendance boundaries for the 5-6 school.

Will there be opportunities to see the school prior to starting in August?

• Yes. The plan, after staffing, is to hold orientation meetings with students and parents in the spring and summer of 2024 to implement a transition plan so students and parents know what to expect when school starts. We will engage parents through a PTO, transition meetings at the request of parents, as well as tours and activities to increase the comfort level of a new school.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING

Will general educational programming and pedagogy remain the same? Will the students be taught the core subjects by a single teacher or by several teachers?

• In order to facilitate the transition for our students, Coyote Ridge programming will be similar to current elementary schools. The Division of Instruction, Administration and instructional staff of Coyote Ridge will adjust the instructional environment to meet the varying needs of students.

• The curriculum is the same in all LCSD1 schools, with varying nuances in instruction throughout all of our schools. The facility is designed in a flexible manner to allow for a variety of instructional approaches.

• With the increased population, there will be unique opportunities for acceleration and remediation, such as providing Honors 7 Math at the building level rather than bussing students to McCormick Junior High.

How will students be grouped?

• Similar to groupings at Meadowlark Elementary, Coyote Ridge Elementary students will be with some familiar friends and some new friends. Inside the school, students will be grouped in four neighborhoods (two in each 5th and 6th grades) with students from a variety of schools across the district. However, the groups will be formed with thought and input from former teachers, principals, and parents.

How many students will attend Coyote Ridge Elementary? How many classrooms of each grade level will there be?

• ·The facility capacity is 550-600 students. We expect to have 18-20 classrooms at opening. The design of the school will support twelve classrooms per grade level. There are also separate educational spaces for science, art, general music, band, orchestra, and physical education.

Will recess be offered during the school day?

• Yes. The daily routine will be similar to existing 5th–6th grade schedules.

Will the length of the school day remain similar to our current elementary schedule?

• ·Yes. There may be subtle adjustments to the schedule (5-10 minutes) in order to accommodate transportation, nutrition services, and specialist schedules.

What will the student to teacher ratio be?

• The intended maximum for the upper elementary grades in LCSD1 is approximately 25 to 1.

Will the students be taught by a single teacher or by several teachers?

• Similar to other elementary schools, your child will have more than one teacher.

• The facility is designed in a flexible manner to allow for a variety of instructional approaches based on the varying needs of the students.

If students have different teachers for different subjects, will the students or teachers move classes?

• Both instructional opportunities are possible, depending on student need. In elementary schools where upper grades departmentalize, the common practice is for students to move from room to room.

Will grading policies be different at Coyote Ridge Elementary?

• Grading practices will be consistent with district grading policies.

Will the school be run like a middle school?

• Yes, using research-based best practices. The district has spent the last 10 years researching a variety of middle level instructional practices including our three district programs. This research has led to the implementation of new instructional practices that are more age appropriate for the midlevel learner. The middle level student ranges from grades 4-9.

OTHER QUESTIONS

Will extracurricular programs be offered at Coyote Ridge Elementary?

• Yes. There will be many opportunities for students to become engaged in extracurricular programming.

• Student Council will be a building-hosted activity.

• All other standard extracurricular activities sponsored by LCSD1 will be offered. Other clubs and organizations will be established as interest or demand drive the need.

What is the plan to establish a positive culture at Coyote Ridge?

• The district has opened several new schools in recent history. Through these experiences, protocols have evolved and have proven to be successful. The new principal will be hired during the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year, with the building’s leadership team to follow soon after. The leadership team will finalize the transition plan for the opening of the school and activities designed to establish student and community relationships.

• In opening new schools, past practice has been to establish the building leadership team and then have the team develop the district’s Strategic Plan. Further details of this plan will be shared at the spring meetings.

How will you address bullying with students coming from four different schools into one?

• LCSD1 has implemented the Sources of Strength program in the fall of 2022. The Olweus bullying prevention program was initiated in 2012-13; through this implementation, the district has seen an improvement in reducing these types of behaviors. The students attending Coyote Ridge will have had this training for several years prior to moving into the new school. Additionally, the district has implemented a standard elementary discipline matrix to ensure consistency across all schools. Staff are trained in the early identification of bullying and are expected to intervene at the earliest point possible. This is a standard expectation across all schools.

Can my 5th grade child remain in their current school?

• Grandfathering options are not available because there will be no 5th grade sections available in the feeder schools. You may apply for a waiver to another school (these are granted on space availability).

• The space vacated at the feeder schools will be occupied by K-4 students in the fall to move closer to the state-mandated 16:1 K- 3 ratio and to try to bring forced out K-4 students back to their neighborhood schools.

Will the 5th grade teachers in the feeder schools automatically be moved to Coyote Ridge?

• No. Specific teacher assignments are currently being considered. Some teachers may want to switch grade levels and remain in their current school. Likewise, some teachers may want to change grade levels and move to Coyote Ridge. Retirements, class sizes, and many other factors impact staffing decisions.

How will the opening of Coyote Ridge impact the overcrowding and the use of modulars in the Central Triad?

• When fully open, Coyote Ridge will free up 24 classrooms spread throughout the Central Triad elementary schools. The possible increase in housing development in this area may have an impact on our ability to fully address capacity in the Central Triad and to reduce the reliance on modulars across the district.

Will students get to keep their iPads from their previous school?

• Yes. Students will turn in their iPads at the end of the school year prior to transitioning to Coyote Ridge. These will be prepared for the 2024-25 school year by the district’s technology department for immediate use when students begin school.