Board discusses North/South enrollment gap, AP inequities and transportation constraints

Board members and the superintendent reviewed persistent enrollment and program disparities between the district's two high-school campuses. Presentation figures varied by dataset, but the superintendent cited roughly 800 students at North and about 1,268 at South in the presentation; board members noted the feasibility study and January report used different inclusion rules (some counts included hybrid/MCTI students).

The superintendent highlighted AP-course imbalances as an instructional equity concern: "In our north AP course, we have 2 [students]." She explained that low enrollment in some specialized classes creates pedagogical problems and cost-inefficiencies.

Career-technical participation (MCTI) exacerbates scheduling and transportation complexity. The superintendent said roughly 150 MCTI students create long, dispersed routes because North students are bused directly to MCTI in Bartonville; this complicates block schedules and has led North to shift to a period schedule in many cases. District buses reportedly drive about 6,100 miles per day, with an average ride of about 24 minutes in the morning and 25 minutes in the afternoon.

Board members asked staff to provide consistent enrollment counts that exclude or explicitly note which student groups (MCTI, cyber, charter) were included, and requested maps showing how redistricting (options for 5 vs. 6 elementary schools) would change Northand South enrollment and travel times. The board also discussed PIAA rules related to athletics and how consolidation would affect sports classifications and students' ability to participate.