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Stillwater board approves Option A boundary changes; administration says move balances future growth
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Summary
After extensive debate about process, transportation and equity, the board approved administration‑recommended Option A for elementary boundary adjustments to balance enrollments and prepare for two new schools; the board directed staff to notify affected families and provide enrollment and transportation options.
The Stillwater Area Public Schools board approved administration‑recommended Option A for elementary boundary adjustments affecting the district's southern attendance areas, after a lengthy presentation and debate over process, family impact and transportation.
District staff described three options developed by an advisory committee and recommended Option A on grounds it better aligns enrollment with long‑term growth projections and helps maximize use of the new Bayport and Lake Elmo elementary buildings. Presenter Mark summarized the goals: "We want to try to get each school as close to 400 as we can," he said, adding that 400 "is not a magic number" but supports a target of about three class sections per grade.
Public commenters repeatedly urged the board to reject Option A. Parent Nick Leverson told the board Option A would displace substantially more families and athletes than other options and requested the board choose Option C: "Option A impacts 135 students while Option C only impacts 39," he said. Ted Snaaza and others questioned why transportation funding and equity were not more fully addressed before recommending Option A.
Board discussion covered legacy student guarantees, timing for staffing decisions, transportation routing timelines and the boundary committee's advisory role. Administration committed to direct communications: families whose assignments change will receive a mailing this week, legacy students will retain a spot at their current school and the district expects to publish routing and transportation details by March. The board also noted alternate‑enrollment and priority deadlines on January 15 for families considering options.
Director Parker disclosed a potential conflict and stated she would recuse herself from the vote because she resides inside an affected boundary. After discussion the motion to approve Option A was moved and seconded and carried on the record; specific vote tallies for that motion are not included in the transcript.
Next steps: affected families will receive notices of new assignments and information about legacy student options, alternate enrollment priority and transportation routing. Staff said they will work to minimize disruptions and to provide welcoming activities for students who move to new schools.
