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Utica board dissolves two elementary attendance areas and approves K–5/6–8/9–12 reconfiguration
Summary
The Utica Community Schools Board voted unanimously to dissolve the Dresden and Plumbrook elementary attendance areas and to reorganize grade levels to K–5, 6–8 and 9–12, with phased implementation beginning in 2027 and boundary changes in effect by 2028–29.
The Utica Community Schools Board of Education on Dec. 15 adopted a resolution to dissolve the Dresden and Plumbrook Elementary attendance areas and to reorganize district grade levels to elementary kindergarten through grade 5, middle schools grades 6–8 and high schools grades 9–12.
The attendance-area motion, which also implements boundary adjustments for Burr, DeKeyser, Ebeling, Flickinger, Harvey, Monfort, Oakbrook, Schuchard and Schwarzkoff, passed on a 6–0 roll call vote after a motion by Mrs. Austerman and support from Dr. Steven Meyer. The board set the elementary attendance-area changes to take effect beginning with the 2028–2029 school year. The board separately approved the grade-configuration change, on a 6–0 vote (motion by Mrs. Kelli Rankin; support by Mrs. Becker), to begin with the 2027–2028 school year.
District staff told the board the recommendations were developed by the Enrollment Distribution Advisory Committee (EDAC) after six meetings reviewing enrollment projections, facility ages and building utilization for Clusters II, III and IV. Dr. Mark Dziatczak, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, said the EDAC’s work yielded three primary recommendations: assign all West Utica Elementary students to Eppler Junior High (implementation fall 2027); dissolve Dresden Elementary’s attendance area and reassign those students to neighboring schools; and reassign Plumbrook Elementary students, both reassignments slated for fall 2028.
Board members and administrators described the changes as responses to shifting enrollment patterns and a way to strengthen neighborhood ties and building utilization. The recommendations were reviewed by district and school administrators, EDAC members and the Curriculum and Capital Projects subcommittees before coming to the full board.
The board did not record any votes in opposition. The district plans to carry the implementation work forward with additional administrative actions and community outreach in advance of the stated start dates.
