Overview

The Eugene School District is undertaking a strategic planning process called Shaping 4J's Future. This process focuses on several unanswered questions about how and where the district will provide instructional programs to best serve our students, in light of declining enrollment and changing student demographics and needs. Our choices will guide school size and grade configuration, location of schools and programs, and related decisions over the next 5-7 years.

What's New?

• The Eugene School Board approved a dozen "Shaping 4J's Future" recommendations from Superintendent George Russell at its March 19 meeting. The approved options include proposals to plan a merger of Harris and Eastside elementaries; keeping Coburg and Meadowlark schools open; putting more staff in higher-need schools; and looking further at providing transportation for families who don't attend their neighborhood schools.

What’s Next?

With the board's March 19 approval of revised recommendations, the board and district staff will now move into research and planning on issues like a possible merger of Harris and Eastside; changes to the Adams Elementary program; surveys of parent choices; relocation possibilities for Buena Vista and Charlemagne; and providing new transportation options.

What's Happened?

• Superintendent Releases Revised Recommendations: Superintendent George Russell released his revised recommendations for Shaping 4J's Future on Monday, March 3. They will be presented to the Eugene School Board at its March 5 meeting.
• Superintendent Releases Recommendations: Superintendent George Russell released his recommendations for Shaping 4J's Future on Friday, Feb. 8. They were presented to the Eugene School Board at its Feb. 13 meeting. At that meeting, the board asked several questions related to the recommendations that staff have answered.
• Superintendent Releases Report: Superintendent George Russell on Monday, Jan. 14 released a set of goals and principles that will guide his Shaping 4J recommendations to the Eugene School Board. Russell will present his report to the board at its Jan. 16 meeting.
• Shaping 4J's Future Conversations: In December 2007, the district invited staff from elementary schools, staff from secondary (middle and high) schools, and parent representatives, to come to the Education Center for frank discussions of the Shpaing 4J issues and findings. Summaries and reports from those meetings are available for download.
• Shaping 4J's Future Survey Results: A report on the results of the Shaping 4J's Future Survey is available as a PDF download. The results will be presented to the Eugene School Board at the Dec. 19 meeting.
• Shaping 4J's Future Survey: From Oct. 17 through Nov. 9, the district is putting a survey out to parents, staff and the community, asking for their opinions. The survey can be completed on-line from Oct. 18 until Nov. 9 (this link leads to an independent survey site).
• Shaping 4J Survey Newsletter Survey newsletters will be sent home with elementary school students and mailed home to middle school and high school families, starting Oct. 17. They will also be stuffed in the Monday, Oct. 22 Register-Guard newspaper. Extra copies will be available at schools. The survey will also be on-line. Some community members will be selected at random to receive a survey by mail.
• Superintendent's Recommendations The Superintendent's Recommendations to the Eugene School Board, based on the Think Tank Report. Approved by the board at its Aug. 15 meeting.
• Think Tank Final Report The final report of recommended options from the Think Tank to the Eugene School Board; finalized by the Think Tank in early August, 2007.
• Think Tank Progress Report The Think Tank is on schedule to deliver a product to the School Board in early August. The progress report for the June 6 School Board meeting provides a look at their work to date.
• The Trends & Issues Report summarizes the information and ideas collected during Phase 1. The report summarizes:
  • trends in student enrollment and demographics
  • options for configuring instructional programs and schools in the future, as developed by eight focus groups comprised mostly of 4J staff
• Focus Group Information & Reports