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Board hears targeted rezoning map to move some Liberty Middle students to Howard Middle; vote set for April 22
Summary
Staff recommended a targeted rezoning to shift students from Liberty Middle to Howard Middle to address localized overcrowding. The board discussed grandfathering eighth graders without transportation and the timing of staffing adjustments related to open enrollment; a public hearing and vote are scheduled for April 22.
Marion County Public Schools staff presented a targeted rezoning proposal April 3 to adjust attendance boundaries between Liberty Middle and Howard Middle to relieve localized overcrowding. The proposal would move students within two small zones (Liberty Zone A and B); staff said 163 zoned middle-school students currently reside in the affected areas.
The item matters to families because rezoning can change students' assigned schools, bus eligibility and local staffing. Staff recommended the board approve adjusted attendance boundaries effective August 2025 and approve grandfathering rising eighth-grade students who do not have transportation, allowing them to remain at their current campus without district-provided transport.
Mr. Ayers, presenting the map and timeline, said the district used PowerSchool projections and historical enrollment rates to develop growth estimates and used the state's FISH seat counts to determine capacity. He recommended targeted rezoning and said the next step is a rule-making public hearing and vote scheduled for April 22.
Board members discussed operational impacts if Liberty becomes available for controlled open enrollment (staff noted a wing addition at Liberty will allow that) and whether staffing changes should wait until the 20-day count so a possible influx of open-enrollment students does not leave another school short. Mr. Ayers and other staff said their plan was to leave staffing at Liberty in place for the time being and revisit allocations at the 20-day count; Howard would be staffed for the projected additional students.
No formal vote occurred at the work session; staff recommended the adjusted boundaries and grandfathering and will present the rule-making hearing and vote on April 22.
Ending: If the board adopts the changes April 22, adjusted boundaries take effect for the 2025-26 school year; staff will monitor open enrollment and the 20-day count and adjust staffing as needed.
