North Cape board sets open-enrollment availability for 2025–26; special education closed except speech seats

The North Cape School District Board of Education approved open-enrollment availability for the 2025–26 school year during its Jan. 19 meeting.

The board voted to adopt the general-education open-enrollment numbers as presented in an attachment to the meeting minutes. Dr. Lehnen presented available seats for each grade 4K through eighth grade consistent with that attachment; the minutes state the figures are “consistent with policy.”

In a separate motion the board approved special-education open enrollment with zero availability across disability areas except Speech and Language Only, where the district approved three seats. Ryan Menken moved both recommendations; Ryan Malchine seconded the motions and the board approved them unanimously.

Why it matters: open-enrollment decisions determine whether students from other districts may enroll in North Cape next year. Special-education availability affects students who require individualized services; the board’s decision to close most special-education seats means out-of-district students needing those services would not be admitted under open enrollment, except for the limited speech-only openings.

What the board said and did: Dr. Lehnen presented the recommendations and the board referenced an accompanying attachment for the detailed seat counts; the minutes record motions and unanimous approval. The board did not read specific seat totals for general education aloud in the minutes, and the attachment is referenced as part of the official record.

Next steps: The board’s action establishes the district’s open-enrollment posture for 2025–26. Families seeking open enrollment should consult the district’s published attachment and official policy for grade-specific availability and any application deadlines.