Students Doe Exhibit 48[0-30-08 I favor 7C-1 with the following changes: ‘The one group of students in the district who has been clearly defined as underachieving is our minority population, particularly our African American students and our non-native speakers. I would like to suggest that if we can somehow improve the chances for success of these populations through redistricting, we should try. ‘We know that a very large percentage of the children who live in South Ardmore are ‘African American or immigrant. They have asked to be brought together for high school for the multitude of reasons we have heard. However, if we believe the research that community is important, than this particular group should be given every bit of help we can fairly give. So, the first change I would make would be to place all of South Ardmore in the Lower Merion attendance area. I would also give all of South Ardmore — from Spring to West ‘Wynnewood Road and from Lancaster to County Line the choice to go to Harriton. Now, we know that in doing this we have the potential to racially isolate the remaining African American students who would attend Hartiton. My solution to this is to create a staff position (or expand an existing staff position) of a “minority advocate.” This person (be it counselor or social worker—but not Carla Coleman!) would be responsible for ‘making sure that minority students are pushed appropriately, supported appropriately and advocated for in all circumstances. This person would be responsible for helping with MS-HS transitions, IEPs, outreach into-the homes, counseling and whatever other kinds Cf supports these kids would need. They would basically be a “super” counselor. This person would meet with the students, as a group (it may need to be split into 2), once a cycle during RAM periods to discuss issues of isolation and inclusion, and to share concems and how to acknowledge and overcome their feelings of being different. Since, in the future, they will likely be a minority in the white collar work place, part of this ‘would include conversations for how to deal with this situation. Since they will be meeting as a group with similar concems and experiences, they can hopefully create a sense of community within the larger Harriton community. My thinking is much like ‘what we do with the “gifted” kids, only different. This position would not exist at LM, because, theoretically, they will have the numbers to ‘support each other in the classroom. This could be a draw for the kids to go to Harriton. ‘Now, since we are allowing the Ardmore students from the PW attendance area to attend LM, we must also return the Ballytore PW kids to LM so that they are not isolated, ‘The last big issue is the total number of students at Harriton. 1 would fix this by extending the Rockland Avenue line to Bowman. There are a large number of students in that area and they are much more connected to the folks North of Rockland than are the Short Ridge kids. This is a geographically “natural” place to draw the line. It will also make the map look less “scooped” (like ice cream, not dog food). LMSDDDB00397Alll of this reduces the number of schools feeding into the middle and high schools from 5 to4, PW, CY, GL, and BH would have the 3-1-1, MR and PV would be split almost 50/50 either after S* grade or after 8". (sce below) ‘The last issue of concern is grandfathering middle schoolers, My plan would be phased in at the middle schoo! level so that the current 6%, 7® and 8" graders would split to their new high schools after middle school. The rising 6” graders would attend the middle school that would feed to their high school. So that in 3 years we would have our 6-12 Continuity but we would have K-8 continuity until then. ‘Narberth gets community and continuity but not walkability. South Ardmore, the area which needs the most help in terms of achievement, would get ‘community, continuity and walkability. Merion would get continuity and, because the numbers going to HH would be greater, they will get a good portion of their community. Penn Valley gets walkability. LMspDDB00398