Boundary Advisory Committee recommends no boundary changes; board asks staff to review transfer policy

Deputy Superintendent Larry Engelbrecht told the USD 497 board that the Boundary Advisory Committee, after six meetings and review of consultant data, recommended no boundary changes at this time.

The committee’s data projection showed a district-wide enrollment decline of about 220 students by the 2029–30 school year, with the largest decreases at the high-school level. The consultants projected Free State High School enrollment at about 1,675 students and Lawrence High School at about 1,440 by 2029–30 — a difference of about 235 students — and forecast two elementary schools (Hillcrest and Schwagler) trending toward over‑utilization while Deerfield, Prairie Park and Woodland were forecast to fall below 70% of capacity.

Engelbrecht said the committee explicitly avoided any discussion of school closures and did not recommend closing buildings. Instead, the committee asked administration to study alternatives that would preserve student access to programs and reduce disruption, including possible feeder concepts and options to expand program access across high schools.

Board members asked administration to examine the district’s transfer policy and the treatment of full‑time-equivalent (FTE) funding that currently affects transfer approvals. Board member Anne Costello and others said a transfer-policy review could allow students to access programs at other schools without the ripple effects of boundary changes.

Ending: The board accepted the committee’s recommendation for no boundary changes and instructed staff to continue study and report back, with an agreed board interest in reviewing transfer policy and program-access options.