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Eastpointe schools to release K–5 boundary maps Feb. 1 as district moves to K–5 structure
Summary
Eastpointe Community Schools staff presented proposed K–5 attendance zones and a timeline that will notify families Feb. 1; the plan aims to balance enrollment across four elementary schools, will offer transportation for students moved across Gred Avenue, and sets a transfer application deadline of March 17.
Communications and marketing coordinator Caitlyn Kenet presented proposed K–5 attendance maps and district enrollment analysis at the Eastpointe Community Schools board meeting on Jan. 27, 2025. The district will release boundary maps to families and mail letters on Feb. 1, and families must submit intra-district transfer requests by March 17.
Kenet said the maps are built from current enrollment and Census data, and that the district is starting from a base of 837 resident and 134 nonresident preschool–4th-grade students. She said the district expects 80 to 100 additional kindergarten students beyond the figures used in the draft maps and noted the proposal would affect roughly 50 families out of about 900 elementary families as administrators try to create more equitable school sizes.
Kenet explained the proposed lines shift a small wedge of students on the east side of Gred Avenue to Belleview to balance class sizes at Forest Park and Pleasant View. She said students who must cross Gred Avenue would be offered transportation and that the district is coordinating with the city on crossing-guard and police support for safe routes. "If a student lives on the east side of Gred that is zoned to Belleview, they would be offered transportation," Kenet said.
Board and public questions focused on transportation logistics, teacher assignments, and special-education placements. The district will send a staffing-preference survey to K–5 employees in late February to collect placement requests; human-resources staff will prioritize assignments based on evaluation results and then seniority where needed, Kenet said. On special-education services, Special Education Director Laori Rash (as referenced in the presentation) will hold additional parent meetings; administration said students will continue to receive the services in their IEPs, but in some cases the classroom placement may be in another building while the district finalizes allocations.
Kenet also described outreach and materials: a short student Q&A video was posted to the district website and YouTube, an online survey is available for parents to submit feedback, and all materials will be centralized on the district’s K–5 transition web page. Superintendent M. Gibson said the goal is to reduce split classrooms and provide more consistent elementary teaching assignments while keeping student safety and family needs central to the transition.
The presentation was informational only; the board did not take action at the meeting. The district expects to finalize assignments and staffing after the March 17 transfer deadline and staffing-survey results; families will receive individualized letters explaining any change and transportation options.
