Board votes to reconfigure to neighborhood schools; Proposal 1 approved for elementary and middle schools
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Summary
After more than 60 public input opportunities and staff review, the board approved Proposal 1 to shift to a neighborhood model (three K–5 elementary schools and two 6–8 middle schools). The board instructed staff to develop school zone maps and proceed with implementation steps.
The Siloam Springs School District board voted to move forward with a neighborhood‑school model and approved Proposal 1 for both elementary and middle schools.
District leaders described a months‑long public process that included more than 60 opportunities for input, staff meetings, and a board work session with zoning options presented by Zonda. Leadership recommended Proposal 1 — the configuration the district said best balanced transportation and community feedback — and the board voted to adopt that recommendation for elementary and then for middle schools in separate voice votes.
Board members acknowledged some parents would be disappointed by any boundary decision: one member noted that while feedback was “unanimous” in favor of Proposal 1 overall, a few parents preferred Proposal 2 to keep specific friend groups together. The presenter and board members emphasized that drawing lines inevitably separates some students from others and that staff had tried to incorporate community feedback into adjustments.
Next steps: the district will develop and publish school zone maps, finalize transportation plans tied to the new configuration, and return to the board with any required implementation details. School‑zone mapping and associated transportation implications were cited as immediate follow-ups.