On February 14, 2011, the Henderson County Board of Public Education directed the Superintendent of Schools to formulate a Study Committee to identify areas of concern and to conduct, coordinate and consider research data relative to Bruce Drysdale Elementary and Hendersonville Elementary Schools in order to determine possible strategies that would enhance both schools.

Mr. Bryce A. Malsbary facilitated the study process.  Mr. Malsbary is an experienced consultant who has worked in the United States and internationally dealing with strategic planning, conflict resolution, mediation, facilitation, human resource management, and Board and Management Development.

The Study Committee met nine times between March 2011 and November 2011, with meetings lasting between two and one-half hours to four and one-half hours. Facilitator Bryce Malsbary also met with the staff of each school to gain a better understanding of their perspectives and concerns.

Members of the Study Committee discussed a variety of possible options for Board consideration.  The Study Committee developed ten different options, and then members worked in groups to discuss each option.  The Study Committee members reviewed and discussed the original ten possible options and then voted to narrow the options to four. The Study Committee also recognized that a combination of options could be considered as well.  The Study Committee also identified possible advantages and possible disadvantages for each option. Below are the options for Board consideration:

• Bruce Drysdale Elementary becomes a “magnet” school in technology with an opportunity for a dual language program
• Merge the student populations of Bruce Drysdale Elementary and Hendersonville Elementary with two campuses – one grades K-2 and the other grades 3-5
• Retain Hendersonville Elementary as a non-district school but provide transportation and priority enrollment to students in the Bruce Drysdale Elementary district
• Recreate school districts in the Henderson County Public Schools to define a Hendersonville Elementary district
• Combination of compatible considerations

The Study Committee presented a report of its findings to the School Board on Monday, December 12, 2011. The Study Committee provided a Presentation of their findings, they also utilized a Data Review document in this process as well as a research report conducted by at the Center of Performance Assessments, The 90 90 90 Schools, A Case Study.

The School Board is also reviewing the following information:  Timeline Information for Bruce Drysdale Elementary and Hendersonville Elementary, Report on Study Committee Considerations, and Supplemetal Data Report – 2011-12.

The School Board plans to obtain stakeholder input on the suggested options by conducting a survey of the parents at each school.  The School Board also plans to conduct workshops to discuss and evaluate the options, possible impacts and resources needed to implement each option.  It is the hope of the School Board to finalize a decision before April 1, 2012.

Tentative Plan of Action

DECEMBER 2011    Develop parent survey
JANUARY 2012       Finalize survey development; survey distribution and return
FEBRUARY 2012    Compile survey results and hold workshop(s)
MARCH 2012          Finalize decisions

 

Survey Results Released

On Wednesday, February 22, 2012, Dr. Meagan Karvonen, Associate Professor for Educational Research at Western Carolina University, presented to the Board the results of the Parent Survey for Bruce Drysdale and Hendersonville Elementary Schools.  To view the survey results presentation, please click here.

School Improvement Initiatives

On Monday, March 12, 2012, the School Board approved several School Improvement Initiatives to begin in the 2012-13 school year.