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Resident urges five‑year strategic plan as Hogan School closing and new housing prompt enrollment questions
Summary
Patty Henderson, a Rice Lake resident, told the board she expects new housing projects could overcrowd local schools, asked for clarity about Hogan School closure plans and urged a five‑year strategic plan with taxpayer and parent involvement; she offered to serve as a citizen member on planning efforts.
At the board’s appearance period, Patty Henderson of Bear Lake Township raised questions about recent housing developments and district planning tied to the planned closure of Hogan School.
Henderson said she had been told by the mayor and district contacts about several housing projects, including 158 units reported as under development by Forever Enterprise near Farm and Fleet, and other projects under discussion. She said such growth could cause overcrowding at Tanger and Hilltop and asked the board to make a five‑year strategic plan that includes parents and taxpayers before pursuing a referendum to replace or expand school facilities.
Henderson also asked why there were no women on the finance committee and said a district official (referred to in the meeting as Mr. Jensen) told her committee membership was by volunteer preference; she said she would be willing to serve as a community citizen member specifically for the Hogan School project. Henderson raised questions about student open enrollment patterns and whether some families were choosing other schools for reasons she asked the district to clarify.
The board acknowledged the request, said staff would follow up and noted that specific answers would require staff research; no action was taken during the public‑comment period.
