Board questions proposal to open 463 seats to out-of-district students next year
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Summary
District staff presented a draft formula that would offer up to 463 open-enrollment seats for 2026–27 under a 90% capacity model; several board members pushed back on the jump from last year, asked for clarifications about grade-level caps and resident growth protections, and asked staff to return in January with adjusted high‑school figures (suggested 395).
Franklin district staff presented a preliminary open-enrollment plan on Dec. 3 that, using a 90% capacity formula, would make 463 seats available across grade levels for the 2026–27 school year. Staff said the formula is intended as a 'defensible mechanism' for the Department of Public Instruction and that it reserves roughly 10% of class capacity for resident growth.
Board members questioned the size and timing of the increase. One board member asked, "It's 463 seats across the district. Last year, we approved a 104. ... Why are we seeing this dramatic change in this one year?" Staff said the result reflects formula adjustments (moving from an 85% to a 90% fill threshold in some grade bands), roll-forward projections by grade and historical census data, and a decision to back out prior-year open‑enrollment slots from 4K projections to show resident demand more clearly.
Concerns centered on two practical points: whether the district is unintentionally committing to long-term seats that would remain filled through high school if families enroll, and whether the district’s classroom and staffing plan can absorb higher enrollment in particular grades. Staff acknowledged those trade-offs and said the board could adjust grade-level caps; in discussion they agreed to revisit the high-school cap and to model a modest increase to 395 per grade as an alternate scenario.
District staff also reminded the board about the appeals process: if the district caps open enrollment or chooses a formula that is later seen as insufficiently defensible by DPI, families can appeal and the district may be required to accept students under DPI rulings. Board members asked staff to return with a refined spreadsheet and clearer supporting documentation of the projections ahead of the January action item.
No formal action was taken at the Dec. 3 meeting; board members signaled support for returning with revised numbers and for continuing to refine the defensible mechanism used to generate the seat totals.