Agenda Item
Meeting Date:
4/9/2025 - 7:00 PM  
Category:
Action Items  
Type:
Action  
Subject:
Approval of Franklin Middle School Boundary Change  
Vision 2026:
 
Policy:
 
Background:
Per Board Policy 7:30, attendance boundaries are reviewed each school year to ensure each school operates consistent with student capacity limits. The last boundary change was made in 2015, with a slight adjustment in the Hawthorne and Pleasant Hill boundaries. Prior to that, an adjustment was made in 2012 at Franklin Middle School. The Franklin Middle School boundary change moved a portion of Washington Elementary School from Franklin to Monroe. Attached you will find the description of the areas that were moved. In both of these boundary adjustments, students already enrolled at a school were allowed to continue while the new boundary was phased in. The most recent set of enrollment projections done by Dr. Kasarda shows an enrollment trend that will allow some additional capacity at Franklin. Based on that attendance pattern, the District received a request from a group of community members to review the 2012 boundary adjustment to determine if those attendance areas could be adjusted back to Franklin. This would avoid the continued split of the Washington feeder pattern to two middle schools. The District has done that analysis, reviewed it with both the HR/Policy Committee and the Facilities Committee and determined that both current and future projected enrollments would support the change. This was presented at the March 12th Board of Education Meeting. Following the meeting, the proposed boundary change was communicated through Board Highlights, a direct communication to the Washington School Community, and an additional letter to the families immediately impacted by the boundary change. Community forums were held at Washington Elementary School on March 25th and virtually on March 26th. Finally a Google form link was provided to collect any additional feedback or questions from community members. We would recommend a similar phased approach take place with grade 6 students moving to Franklin for the 2025-2026 school year, while grade 7 and 8 students would be given the option to stay at Monroe or move to Franklin.  
File Attachment:
Franklin Boundary Change 4.9.25.pdf
 
Summary:
The administration is proposing a change to the Franklin attendance boundaries. Feedback received from the community is supportive of the boundary adjustment. Administration received a few questions about the phased approach to the boundary change and was able to answer those questions. If approved tonight, this change will take place prior to scheduled middle school step-up activities for the 2025-2026 school year.  
Funding:
 
Board Policy:
7:30 Student Assignment and Intra-District Transfer  
Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the boundary adjustment for Franklin Middle School as included in the attached document.  
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Jeff Schuler - Superintendent
 
Vote Results:

Original Motion
Member Erik Hjerpe Moved, Member Dave Long seconded to approve the Original motion 'It is recommended that the Board of Education approve the boundary adjustment for Franklin Middle School as included in the attached document.'. Upon a Roll-Call Vote being taken, the vote was: Aye: 7 Nay: 0.
The motion Carried 7 - 0
   
Brad Paulsen     Yes
Rob Hanlon     Yes
Dave Long     Yes
Angela Blatner     Yes
Julie Kulovits     Yes
Erik Hjerpe     Yes
John Rutledge     Yes