A number of possible facility-related options to grow the capacity of our elementary schools have been under consideration by district staff and the school board. Following a series of board meeting discussions on this topic, the School Board is expected to take action this Wednesday (Jan. 14) on short- and medium-term recommendations to increase capacity in anticipation of the continued enrollment growth.

Predicting the number of students who will enroll in the future is complex, and as a result, planning is being done through the establishment of a progressive list designed to respond to varying increases in enrollment. With the first enrollment deadlines coming in early February, staff expect to have a better estimate of enrollment for the 2015-16 school year in early Spring.

The possible short-term and medium-term solutions under consideration involve using a few current "flex" rooms as regular classrooms, the addition of portables at two or three school sites, and/or the movement of some transitional kindergarten classes to a preschool location(s). These are outlined in detail in item A-1 (p.52) of the school board packet that includes charts listing "One-Year Accommodations" and "Two-Year Solutions". These will be discussed in full at the board meeting on Jan. 14. The possible long-term solution of opening a new elementary school will not be up for a vote but may be discussed at the meeting.

Previous editions of the A+ News provided more background on this topic.