Boundary review committee develops scoring framework as enrollment projections show declines

The district’s Elementary Boundary Review Committee (EBRC) presented a framework for developing elementary boundary scenarios at the Jan. 27 board meeting, establishing guiding themes and a draft scoring system the committee will use to evaluate redistricting options.

The EBRC identified five guiding themes: student‑centered decision making, facility and resource optimization, access to special programs and services, community impact management and implementation metrics. The committee set non‑negotiable parameters for class sizes: targets of 18–22 students in grades K–3 and 22–25 in grades 4–5. The co‑facilitators reported current elementary enrollments in the district range from about 117 students at the smallest school to about 378 at the largest, and noted Applied Population Lab projections that anticipate continued districtwide declines over the coming years.

To evaluate scenarios, the committee developed a draft weighted scoring system. According to the committee summary, primary criteria total 60% and focus on student impact; facility utilization was listed at 20% and demographic balance at 10%. The co‑facilitators also described a set of secondary criteria described as accounting for 40% of the assessment (operational efficiency and community impact, each at 20%), and the EBRC will decide whether that structure meets their needs or requires refinement.

The EBRC scheduled interactive mapping training and scenario development for its next meeting; four working groups will analyze boundaries and produce initial proposals, documenting rationale and community feedback. The committee plans to present final recommendations to the board in March 2025 for possible implementation in the 2025–26 school year.

Board members and attendees reported receiving community inquiries and concerns about potential closures and the prospect of moving large numbers of students into single buildings — for example, projections showing Parkview expansion to roughly 600 students under some scenarios prompted questions about educational environment and logistics. The EBRC co‑facilitators noted the committee’s work is intended to produce multiple scenarios, including options that emphasize using existing space rather than expanding capacity, and that the scoring system can be adjusted based on feedback.

Ending: The EBRC will continue interactive mapping work, refine the scoring rubric if necessary, and bring candidate boundary scenarios to public review and to the board in March.