The Marysville School District is interested in redistricting its elementary schools.
At a board of education meeting Thursday night, Assistant Superintendent Jonathan Langhals presenting the findings of a study that highlighted the enrollment numbers within the district.
The presentation showed that the school district has grown 3 percent, or by 158 students, since 2009. It also predicts enrollment will rise by 15 percent, or 777 students, by the 2028-2029 school year. Overall, the presentation showed the district is likely to grow from 5,239 today to 6,016 students in the 2028-2029 school year.
“A lot of people think like, ‘oh Marysville schools, you have to be exploding, and kids are falling out of buildings and kids are growing so fast,’” Langhals said. “Well, actually, our enrollment is staying somewhat consistent.”
The assistant superintendent said data on the state’s live birth data, historical enrollment in the district, community demographics and local housing information were taken into consideration.
Langhals said building capacity within the district was also observed.
For a 2023-2024 projection, the projects shows that Northwood Elementary could be over capacity by 47 students, and eventually over capacity by 54 students in the 2028-2029 school year. Also, it’s projected that Bunsold Middle School might be 10 students over capacity by the 2028-2029 school year.
Langhals said capacity might change based on educational programs offered. As an example, he noted that a “specialized class for students with emotional needs” could take up two classroom spaces.
Superintendent Diane Mankins said these findings, like a financial forecast, can be volatile. She said, “the farther we get out on that, the less certain we are on the numbers,” and building enrollments should be closely observed.
Langhals said the next step for the district would be to redistrict the elementary schools. He said the district did this about five years ago, “and it was a wonderful process.”
“We’re going to do that again in the fall of 2019, and make a recommendation to Diane (Mankins),” Langhals said. “And it’ll be implemented for the 2020-2021 school year.”
Mankins said “no child will be impacted twice in their elementary career.” As an example, she said a student affected by redistricting in first grade won’t be moved again in fourth grade.
Also at the meeting, new classes are coming to the Early College High School (ECHS) and for elementary students.
At the meeting, ECHS principal Ken Chaffin unveiled a new course he will help teach called DesignU, set for the 2019-2020 school year.
“This literally meeting with kids and asking them, ‘what are you passionate about and what are you interested in?’” Chaffin said. “It is going to impact our community in some real, relevant way.”
The principal said this course would be blocked like a regular 85-minute class, and would be offered to upperclassmen. He said perhaps someday, it would be a class every student would take.
He said the question the class wants to ask students is: “What are you passionate about?”
“They codesign the class with their instructors to essentially tailor directly to that passion they have and that driving question they have, as opposed to a pre-established curriculum,” Chaffin said. “In this case, the curriculum is the passion of the students and that driving question.”
He said the class would work with students to turn their research into an “actionable project,” which could be work in their area of study that would give them experience on their resume after high school.
The next school board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. April 23, at Creekview Intermediate School.