Board votes against redistricting

Administration presents options regarding elementary enrollment

Boyertown Area School District will not be redistricting for the 2017-18 school year.

On Tuesday, Nov. 29, the Boyertown school board unanimously decided to “leave things as they are” regarding elementary enrollment.

Prior to the decision, Board President Jill Dennin advised that the board will eventually need to address the growth on the eastern side of the district.

During the meeting, the board reviewed two redistricting options to address elementary enrollment levels. The options, as presented by Assistant Superintendent Robert Scoboria, involve reassigning hundreds of students to alleviate district’s most concentrated areas in Boyertown, New Hanover, and Gilbertsville. Students would be reassigned to Colebrookedale, Washington, Pine Forge, and Earl elementary schools to help bring balance between the eastern and western sides of district.

For either of the options to take effect in fall 2017, the board would need to take action at their Dec. 13 meeting.

“I am very disturbed at both of these options, I see us uprooting every school and I don’t see any real significant changes,” said board member Christine Neiman. She suggested focusing on one or two concentrated developments and transporting those students to Washington Elementary. “I want the least amount of disruption to our students and our staff.”

Board member Paul Stengle asked about the transportation costs and other issues associated with redistricting. He was also concerned about the

district’s gray areas where the school border lines are blurred.

Scoboria said it was too early to answer about costs, but if approved then then administration would come back with more information.

“We’re going to continue to have problems on the east side of the district,” said John Landino, adding how the issue will need to addressed eventually. “We don’t have a problem today because we’re moving the sixth grade out, but eventually we will have a problem.”

These enrollment options were presented to address any anticipated growth. Board member Clay Breece said he doesn’t see the growth happening in district. He also said he would like to see an option that affects fewer students.

“This is affecting more students and more schools than I thought,” said board member Stephen Elsier.

He explained how the district is already going to see a lot of movement next year as the high school construction project reaches completion and as the sixth grade moves out of the elementary schools.

“We have a lot of good things going on. Personally, I don’t think we need this right now.” He added how one of the reasons the district decided to move the sixth grade out of elementary schools was to alleviate elementary enrollment. He recommended continuing to monitor growth and enrollment.

Dennin explained how the board began discussing redistricting options because there was concern that some schools in the district would be under capacity once the sixth grade classes move out.

“Right now, at this point, we can probably hold off,” said Dennin. “The reality is, there is going to growth in Boyertown and it’s going to be on the eastern part of the district.”

Dennin noted New Hanover Township’s plans for new housing and development, explaining how that was a township decision and there’s nothing she can do.

“We don’t have to rush to move everybody around,” she said, adding how it would be wise to wait to see how things are once the sixth grade leaves to elementary schools. “There is going to be more growth; New Hanover and Gilbertsville will reach capacity. I think it’s very smart that we’re thinking about it and talking about it.”

Following the board’s comments, Faidley said the administration will study the ramifications of the K-5 structure next year and will look into cleaning up the gray areas.

There will be no further action taken on this subject at the Dec. 13 meeting or in the near future.