Unification
This webpage serves as a central hub for the latest updates regarding our schools as we reconfigure several of our campuses. It contains timely information, resources, frequently asked questions, and announcements to ensure families, students, and staff are well-informed throughout the process. The page will be updated regularly, and we encourage you to visit the page often.
Meetings
Unification Team meeting September 2, 2025, 12:40 PM - 3:30 PM
Unification Parent Forum September 4, 2025, 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Location TBD
Unification Team meeting September 30, 2025, TBD
Unification Parent Forum October 1, 2025, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Location Big Room at RUP: Zoom Link - https://roselandsd-org.zoom.
FAQ
My son is currently in 11th grade at RUP. I was wondering if there is plans of extending the elective choices when the RCP students join RUP campus. As it is I feel like there is not enough personal and space to offer more choices to the current RUP students. It seems like there is already limited opportunities for students to expand interests.
- Staff will look at what additional elective offerings might be available with the increased enrollment. Staffing will need to be considered, along with enrollment.
What is the goal of this unification? And... Are you aware that this could affect students' academic performance?
- The goal is to bring as many RCP students as allowed back to RUP for the 26/27 school year to make sure the Charter can remain financially solvent. Staff will be evaluating program for that year to make sure academics continue for all students.
How will it affect our kids by having classroom overpopulated?
- Classes will not exceed the contractual limit of 32 students per class.
Are you going to focus on being equal to all students? What’s going to happen to the scholarships being handed out to the seniors of 2027? How are you going to prevent all the chaos of RCP’s current state catching onto RUP?
- *The scholarship process will be the same as it has been in the past. With increased enrollment at RUP the need for additional staff for student supervision will be considered.
Where will the students eat, since the big room is already too small with the current students? Especially on rainy days? Will there be more staff to take care of them during breaks? To avoid fights between students?
- The impact of increased enrollment on all aspects of student services will be evaluated. This evaluation includes providing necessary access at brunch and lunch.
Will all six portable classrooms that belonged to RAMS be used? Or just four that are already used by RUP? Will all six portable classrooms that belonged to RAMS be used? Or just four that are already used by RUP?
- The four portables will be brought over to RUP and placed on the blacktop. Added play space will be discussed at the November District Board Meeting.
What is the plan to unify the students so they feel like one school and avoid the rivalry that has existed between them? Where will the four RCP portable classrooms be located? Will the basketball court be removed? Will there be more lighting in the area and security surveillance? How many students will there be in each class?
- Students and staff have already begun the process of connecting students from RUP and RCP so they feel like one school.
Will our students be transferring automatically to RUP next school year of 2026-2027, for 9th through 12th grades? Or do we have to enter RUP lottery system?
- The enrollment process is being discussed and will go to the board on 10/15. Please see the website for information on what is being proposed.
Considering unification is happening soon, are there plans for who will be doing the master schedule for next year?Will counselors be able to be a part of that? It sounds like this will have to be a team effort as it is a big task and students start selecting what classes they will take sometime next semester.
- District and site staff will be working to develop the master schedule next year. Counselors will be included.
If my son called the RUP before leaving for vacation and told them I wanted him to go there, the receptionist asked me if I wanted to put him on the waiting list, and I said yes. So this doesn't count anymore?
- See the Roseland Website for enrollment information.
Unification News/Updates
September 2, 2025
The group below had the first meeting of the Unification Group. We used the Flexible Inquiry Process as a starting point for the discussion and a framework. Although it wasn't a perfect fit, it enabled the group to move forward, have good discussions, and determine its focus for the fall meeting. The Charter is still awaiting information from the Department of State Architecture regarding the allowable student capacity at RUP. This is essential information impacting multiple areas of the group’s discussion.
Members: Rachel Sibley, Justin Leong, Kelly Cramer, Vince Doherty, Karen Anderson, Sean Kerr, Gabriel Albavera, Mayra Anguiano, Haley Wilbur, Jason Lea
The group generated the questions below in a round robin format. The discussion included that there will be more questions from all impacted by the closure of RCP and Charter unification.
1. Enrollment process - what does that look like?
2. Is there a need for more construction?
3. How will the sharing of facilities look?
4. What will be the impact on staffing?
5. What will be the impact on the schedule?
6. What will the enrollment be?
7. Campus safety
8. Is it a consolidation or closure? (Pieces of RCP incorporated)
9. Culture and vision?
10. How can we foster a sense of community among our staff throughout the process?
11. Storage space?
12. What is the process for supporting students and families, both for those currently enrolled and those not?
13. How can we ensure that adults convey a positive message to our students?
14. What is the long-term enrollment plan for RUP?
15. How do we provide support to staff who are transitioning to RUP and are affected by the RCP closure?
16. How can Sheppard and RUP work together to maintain safety?
17. How will this impact parking and traffic
18. What does the schedule look like?
During the discussion, the group acknowledged that some of the questions and answers were outside the scope of the group. The table below shows how the group categorized the question. This was done so the group could identify a focus.
| Admin, Board, and/or negotiated | Group |
| Questions, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 17 | Questions, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, 13, 15, 16, 18 |
|
Categories - Sheppard/RUP Safety work, Culture & Support families, Facilities, Culture staff, Communication, Safety, Culture kids, Scheduling |
The group had a long and rich discussion about where they could have an impact and what could be worked
on, given the many unknowns at this point. It was also acknowledged that these discussions will be hard on
staff whose placement for the next school year is at risk. Being sensitive to that is essential. The statement
below was created to focus on the group's next meeting agenda.
Focus Area (challenge statement)
| We are combining two schools. We need to create a culture that supports students, families, and staff, and continue to gather feedback on unification issues. |
Next Steps
- RCP and RUP will have staff discussions during SAW to identify the key components of school culture and prioritize them. Out of the SAW discussions, a survey will bedeveloped to allow students, staff, and parents to give input on elements of school culture.
- It will be important for the Charter to do its due diligence in getting information for the Department of School Architecture on the allowable enrollment numbers at RUP, considering the facilities available.
- The Charter will review current enrollment at RCP to determine the number of students at each grade level and their enrollment history.
- Regular communication will be sent out to the entire district and community at every step of the process.
- The group will be meeting again on 9/30 in the innovation room.
- 9/4 Parent Meeting at RUP - 1st Parent Meeting
- Will my student get into RUP?
- What will the process be?
- How will increased enrollment at RUP impact classes?
- How will increased enrollment at RUP impact Sheppard?
- How will increased enrollment impact the community? (i.e., traffic, parking)
- When will parents get the enrollment information?
September 30, 2025
Members: Rachel Sibley, Justin Leong, Kelly Cramer, Vince Doherty, Karen Anderson, Matt Jones, Sean Kerr, Gabriel Albavera, Haley Wilbur, Luis Escobar, Jason Lea
The group started by sharing what is weighing on them as a result of the closure of RCP and its impact. Feelings expressed included ensuring it is done correctly for students and families, as well as concerns about teachers' employment status next year, what people will be teaching next year, and the effect on Roseland families whose students may not have a spot at RUP the following school year. It was important for all of us to acknowledge what we are carrying with us as we do the work.
The enrollment update was reviewed and discussed. We then went through many of the questions generated at the first meeting and discussed answers and what the next steps would come from them.
Questions from Day 1
1. What does the enrollment process look like? - 26/27 RUP Enrollment Update
2. Is there a need for more construction?
a. Four portables will be moved from RCP to RUP on the blacktop
3. How will the sharing of facilities look?
a. Sheppard/RUP Facility Committee?
4. What will be the impact on staffing?
a. TBD - Staff is evaluating current RUP enrollment and class sizes, as well as the potential impact of the 128.
5. What will be the impact on the schedule?
a. Part of ongoing program evaluation. Continue the schedule in place.
6. What will the enrollment be?
a. 26/27 Enrollment will be 628, and there will be ongoing program and budget discussions to find the optimum RUP enrollment
7. Campus safety
a. Sheppard/RUP Facility Committee? Along with the staff, there is a need for evaluation.
8. Is it a consolidation or closure? (Pieces of RCP incorporated)
9. Culture and vision?
10. How can we foster a sense of community among our staff throughout the process?
11. Storage space?
12. What is the process for supporting students and families, both for those currently enrolled and those not?
a. Staff is working with legal to review the proposal that will go to the board on 10/15.
13. How can we ensure that adults convey a positive message to our students?
14. What is the long-term enrollment plan for RUP?
a. TBD - Staff is evaluating current RUP enrollment and class sizes.
15. How do we provide support to staff who are transitioning to RUP and who will be
impacted by the RCP closing?
16. How can Sheppard and RUP collaborate to ensure safety? See #3 and #7
17. How will this impact parking and traffic
18. What does the schedule look like? See #4 and #5
The group also reviewed the staff data and discussion from RCP and RUP.
Where do we go from here?
- Workgroups
- AVID, Portfolio, PD time in Oct.
- Program/Scheduling Group
- Logistics Group, school
- Sheppard/RUP Safety Collab Group
- ASB Work Group, four meetings?
- What does come with RCP
- Bear on the Knight’s Shield
Information needed before the next.
- What are the educational needs of the current juniors at both RCP and RUP?
- What is the enrollment outlook after Charter Open Enrollment?
The group agreed to meet again on November 4th.
Parent Meeting 10/1 5-6 in the RUP Big Room
December 2, 2025
Members: Rachel Sibley, Justin Leong, Kelly Cramer, Vince Doherty, Karen Anderson, Matt Jones, Sean
Kerr, Gabriel Albavera, Haley Wilbur, Luis Escobar, Jason Lea
Where do we go from here? staff and student logistics surveys
RUP/RCP
- Student Results Summary
- Staff Results Summary
- Action Items
| Parking & Traffic | Sheppard Comms: | Scheduling Team | Supplies & Inventory | Storage & Classroom Assignments | Communications with Students | Student Government | Site Agreements | |
| Jason/AJ | Jason | Gabriel, Kim, Luis, Erinn, Rumaldo, As Needed Benny | Haley, Jason, Sean, Gabriel, Roman, and Kim. Discussions with stakeholders for informed decisions | Haley & Dept. Leads | Unification Team | Sibley & Hartley & Jason | ASP Leads |
Action Items/Next Steps:
- Staffing Impact: Jenny - the group discussed the impact on employees from the unification and recommended that closure-affected staff be notified before the holiday break.
- Parking & Traffic: Jason/AJ
- Sheppard Safety: Jason - Meet with Sheppard
- Boys & Girls' Club Gate; RUP kids walking through campus; Jason will meet with Sheppard staff; increased supervision; maybe a joint drill? Communicating with Sheppard families
- Scheduling & Academic Program: Involving department chairs on some level to make informed decisions, create a Transparent Fair Teacher Assignment Process, Staffing Counseling - Scheduling Team, and Informed Discussions
- Scheduling Electives: Look at the teacher/student data, come up with realistic next steps, look at zero period, look at numbers, in what ways can we find some room to do some things differently to promote our college-going culture and boost student interest/passions, find teachers willing to recruit, and the space to recruit. AP scheduling. How many more classes?
- Ethnic Studies: Where will that live?
- Bell Schedule:
- Inventory: Textbooks, Novels, and Anything Else.
Post Scheduling
- Textbooks/Course Novels: Whose will be using, what kind of ordering will be happening (Department Level with Haley & Site Admin)
- Storage: Where will we store more things? Books? Look into where we need more storage. (Luis)
- Classroom: Which rooms will be assigned to which teachers? Where will storage take place? (Site Admin)
- Safety/Facilities Trouble Spots: How can we better use the trouble areas? Cafeterias, hallways, bathrooms. (Site Admin & SSM & Students & Sheppard)
- walkies/staff & teacher, vaping, communicating with portables, meetings
- Safety Discussions: Discuss RCP Stigma, communicate the supervision plan clearly to students and staff.
- Prep Space: Where will prep be? (Site Admin)
- Communication with Students: What tone can we set early on? How can we communicate?
- Student Culture: Next Steps, Tour, Early Student Integration, 11th grader time (Cramer & Waugh, & Luis)
- Establish Site Agreements: Work group? PD Day? ASP & Leads? Then bring conflicting agreements to SAW.
- Transparency: metrics of success? How can we be most transparent? (Unification Group)
- Workgroups
- AVID, Portfolio, PD time in Oct.
- Program/Scheduling Group
- Logistics Group, school
- Sheppard/RUP Safety Collab Group
- ASB Work Group, four meetings?
- What does come with RCP
- Bear on the Knight’s Shield