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Redistricting of Okinawa Middle Schools for SY ‘19-20

DoDEA Pacific South DSO
Kadena AFB, Okinawa | February 25, 2019

MEMORANDUM FOR OKINAWA MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS AND SPONSORS

SUBJECT: Redistricting of Okinawa Middle Schools for SY '19-20

As part of the ongoing MILCON program for the Okinawa DoDEA schools we are sometimes faced with the need for “swing space” to accommodate students during the various construction projects that will result in 21st Century Schools to service our students. The next project that results in our need to locate such “swing space” is the renovation/construction that will take place at Bechtel ES. This results in our having to relocate almost 800 students along with the staff. The location within the district where such a population shift is possible is the current Ryukyu MS building. At this site we have previously co-located Kadena MS and Ryukyu MS to allow for the completion of the renovation/construction at Kadena MS. The Bechtel relocation, as it involves more grade levels, is more complex and requires relocation of some middle school students to maximize the space we have available for the period of time during which the renovation/construction is scheduled to occur.

To do this we will reduce the middle school population at Ryukyu MS from about 495 (current population) to approximately 250 students and create a population of about 1050 students in the BTES/RMS facility. The capacity of which is 1160 students. This will be accomplished by establishing the following attendance zones/areas for the three middle schools:

Ryukyu MS – map showing this area is included with this mailing

The Ryukyu MS population will consist of the students who currently attend from the Camp Courtney, Camp McTureous and Northern routes. In addition, the walking area around Ryukyu MS bounded by

1. Arnold Ave. from Fairchild Ave. to Douglas Blvd.
2. Douglas Blvd. from Arnold Ave. to Christos Ave.
3. Christos Ave. from Douglas Blvd. to Moore Ave.
4. Moore Ave. from Christos Ave. to Patterson Ave.
5. Patterson Ave. from Moore Ave. to Melville Ave.
6. Melville Ave. from Patterson Ave. to Fairchild Ave. – Intersects with Arnold Ave.

Kadena MS

Kadena MS will serve all middle grades students residing on Kadena AB except those living in the above-defined RMS zone. Also attending KDMS are those students who come from the Awase area, those outside Gates #2 and Gate #5. These students currently attend Kadena MS and will continue to do so. Three new on base bus stops in areas that were zoned for Ryukyu MS are being developed.

Lester MS

Lester MS will continue to serve students from Camp Kinser, Camp Foster and Camp Lester and will gain the students from the Sunabe, Yomitan and the Cape Zampa areas (West side of the Island).

Hotel Schools

The 'hotel schools' for those in temporary billeting will be:

Notes: For SY '19/20, the 'hotel school' for the Elementary Grades on the Marine Corps side will be Killin ES and for the Air Force side it will be Bob Hope/Amelia Earhart PS & IS. The 'hotel schools' should be alternated on a year-to-year basis to help balance the populations within the schools over time.

Registration

Registration for SY '19/20 should occur at the school for which you will be zoned for the coming school year. By working with your current school much of the current paperwork can be transferred to the new school. Course selections will have to be made in person. We are anticipating having counselors from all three middle schools available at a single site to allow for this process to occur in as easy a manner as possible.

Waivers

The complexity of this situation makes the approval of any middle school attendance zone waivers extremely difficult until final or near-final enrollments are known. Thus no attendance zone waivers for middle school students will be considered prior to 10-AUG-2019. These waivers will be managed and approved/disapproved following an established/published criteria – a copy of the order of preference for approval of Middle school waivers is included with this mailing.

• 25 Feb 2019
  Memorandum for Okinawa Middle School Students and Sponsors
  Subject: Redistricting of Okinawa Middle Schools for SY ‘19-20
   
• 21 Feb 2019
  Memorandum for Sponsors/Parents of Okinawa School Students
  Subject: Update on Current Construction and Re-Districting Plans for Okinawa Schools

Realignment of current Ryukyu zone on Kadena AB. Green = stays at Ryukyu MS and Brown = will now be bused to Kadena MS.

Ryukyu MS Attendance Zone for students living on Kadena Air Base

Middle Schools Waiver Matrix SY '19-20

Waiver Requests Will Not Be Considered for Approval Before 10-AUG-2019

Grade 8

1. Enrolled in the middle school for which the waiver is requested school during SY '17/18 and SY '18/19 and living in the defined school attendance zone – Date of Original Registration is a Consideration for Granting a Waiver.
2. Enrolled in the middle school for which the waiver is requested during SY'18/19 and living in the defined school attendance zone – Date of Original Registration is a Consideration for Granting a Waiver.
3. SY '17/18 and SY '18/19 – enrolled, but living outside the school attendance zone on an approved waiver. Date of Original Waiver Request/Approval is a consideration for Granting a Waiver.
4. SY '18/19 – enrolled, but living outside the school attendance zone on an approved waiver. Date of Original Waiver Request/Approval is a consideration for Granting a Waiver.
5. Parent/Sponsor is a DoDEA Employee employed at the school
6. All other waiver requests

Grade 7

1. Enrolled in the middle school for which the waiver is requested during SY' 18/19 and living in the defined attendance zone – Date of Original Registration is a Consideration for Granting a Waiver.
2. SY '18/19 – enrolled, but living outside the school attendance zone – based on approved waiver. Date of Waiver Request/Approval is a consideration for Granting a Waiver
3. Parent/Sponsor is a DoDEA Employee employed at the school
4. All other waiver requests

Grade 6

1. Student has a sibling(s) in 7th or 8th Grade with an Approved Waiver – Date of Waiver Approval
2. Parent/Sponsor is a DoDEA Employee employed at the school
3. All other waiver requests

This plan/matrix does not preclude a waiver being granted for a student requiring special services for his/her educational program.