Emmanuel Myers, Richland School District Two director of planning and operations, presented revised attendance-line recommendations to the board on Sept. 23, saying the district reduced the number of impacted schools after community input and will prepare a second board reading on Oct. 28, 2025.

Myers said the district’s goals were to “balance enrollment at schools along the I‑20 Corridor, keep neighborhoods and subdivisions intact, minimize disruption to transportation routes, improve traffic flow where feasible, and draw attendance lines that anticipate enrollment changes over the next 5 to 10 years.” He told the board the revised proposal reduced the number of impacted schools from the original proposal and that the district will continue to refine projections using updated enrollment counts later this year.

The proposal was developed after three community input sessions and an online survey, Myers said. He told the board the district received more than 437 survey responses and 30–40 attendees across the three in‑person meetings, and that much of the public feedback focused on individual student concerns — for example, requests that rising fifth graders be allowed to remain at their current school.

Board members pressed staff on notification and follow‑up. Gary Dennis (board member) asked for copies of the submitted questions; Myers said the district would provide them. Nikki Porter (board member) requested that families who become newly affected under the revised map receive written notice, not only electronic messages; Myers and district staff agreed to send direct messages to affected families and to update the district website and realtor communications. Myers also said the district will offer a grandfathering option for rising fifth graders and their siblings to reduce disruption.

District staff said the revised maps removed Jackson Creek Elementary and LW Connor from the proposal and that Polo Road Elementary is projected at about 101% capacity on current projections for 2026–27. Myers cautioned that projections are based on Day 11 enrollment this year and will be updated using Day 90 counts later in the enrollment cycle.

Myers closed by outlining next steps: continued direct communications with affected families, additional public information before the second board reading, and posting updated maps online. The board did not vote on the redistricting plan Sept. 23; staff presented the final recommended revisions for board consideration and scheduled a second reading for Oct. 28.

Board members thanked staff for the outreach and asked for clear timelines and written notices to families who will change zones. The district committed to direct messages to households identified in the revised plan and to publish the revised maps and FAQs before the next board action.

The item will return to the board for a second reading and vote on Oct. 28, 2025.