Thursday, December 15, 2011

Wichita Schools presented preliminary proposals for boundary changes that would affect elementary, middle, and high school students next school year.

One of the concerns expressed was the relocation of the Northeast Magnet program into the new northeast quadrant high school building in Bel Aire.

Original plans for the building were to make it a comprehensive or traditional high school. Officials said the Northeast Magnet program enrolls about 600 students and about 100 students are on the waiting list.

Superintendent John Allison said the reality is that funding is different than when the bond issue was passed in 2008.

"You can't have 15 plus million dollars eliminated from your operating revenue and have business as usual. We've seen that in the cuts we're doing," said Allison.

The proposals showed that all current high school and middle school buildings would remain open, as well as opening the new K-8 schools in the northeast and southeast quadrants.

The proposal for middle schools showed that the five magnet schools would become neighborhood magnets. This change would allow students to bypass the application process to attend Allison, Horace Mann, Gordon Parks, Brooks, and Mayberry.

A second proposal was presented for elementary school boundaries. The proposal kept Payne Elementary open while closing four schools, including Bryant, Lincoln, Mueller, and Woodland.

The school board plans to have a decision on boundary changes by Feb. 27, 2012.

If you have any questions or feedback, send emails to boundary@usd259.net.