Demographic committee outlines facility-planning role, explores options to expand Monasuri program

Superintendent Johnson and Kim Kohler presented an overview of the Demographic Trends & Facility Planning committee, explaining the group's advisory role to administration and the board and the data tools it uses to study enrollment, attendance boundaries and facility capacity.

Johnson said the committee "has existed for more than 10 years" and described past committee recommendations that included high-school boundary adjustments and elementary boundary changes tied to program placement. Kim Kohler demonstrated the committee's enrollment table (the district's third-Friday count) and showed how prior boundary changes smoothed enrollment between Memorial and North high schools.

Presenters emphasized that since 2021 the committee operates under an administrative charge rather than as a standing board committee; this year's charge focuses on identifying available space to expand Monasuri by three classrooms following a shortened charter renewal. Kim Kohler and Johnson noted that committee options are advisory and that administration would carry forward any recommended actions for board consideration. The district also noted a population-study RFP (for updated demographic projections) was being processed with a question deadline and a June 5 closing date mentioned during discussion.

Board members raised questions about public outreach and communications, language access, coordination with city and county planners, and whether the district should hire an outside facilitator for community engagement. Presenters said meeting materials and minutes are posted to the district website and that the committee frequently consults local planners and economic-development representatives as part of its analysis.