Elementary School Attendance Area Task Force
Moorhead Area Public Schools
7 p.m. November 6, 2003
Townsite Centre Board Room
Members Present:
Sue Ringham,
Mark Weston,
Jeff Schaumann,
Dann Bjornstad,
Kevin Kopperud,
Lynne Kovash,
Sonia Hohnadel (for Jim Cummings),
Dan Bacon,
Julie Arnold,
Beth Henning,
Diane Mead,
Lisa Christian,
Terri Smith,
Tim Magnusson
Members Absent:
Rosemary Hirchert,
Jim Cummings,
Brenda Rapske
District Representatives:
Dr. Larry Nybladh, superintendent.
Call to Order and Introductions
Chair Mark Weston called the meeting to order. Members introduced themselves, and an updated membership list was provided.
Approval of October 30 Meeting Minutes
Task force members reviewed and approved the minutes. The task force requested that minutes be forwarded to members via e-mail before each meeting.
Birthrate / District Census
Lynne Kovash provided task force members with a handout showing Minnesota Public School Enrollment Projected to 2008. Moorhead School District enrollment trends and projections mirror the state projections.
Current Attendance Area Student Numbers
Dan Bacon provided task force members with a handout listing the School Codes so they could understand the information on the current boundary areas. Bacon distributed current student profile data for the four current attendance areas and districtwide.
City Forecast for Growth
Jeff Schaumann provided ten-year projections for K-5 students. The city used a 8.01% growth factor, which is the growth factor for the current trend of housing. This looks at single family housing only, not multifamily. Based on this growth factor, projections are: north of Main Avenue: 53 students; south of Main to I-94: 68 students; and south of I-94: 107 students for 228 students total. Based on this growth factor, enrollment over the next 10 years will go from the K-5 current enrollment of 2,195 to 2,423. This growth is based on the 8.01% growth factor. The growth rate could vary. It was discussed that building capacity is 2,451.
County Forecast for Growth
Tim Magnusson displayed a map of county growth projections. Projections are for a growth of 19.5 students in 10 years. Magnusson indicated that there is not significant growth in the county. Most is single home development and not major subdivisions. Georgetown is in the flood plain so without a dike, future growth in Georgetown is impeded. Unless areas are annexed to the city and water and sewer services are available, future growth in the county will be limited.
Lynne Kovash shared the November enrollment which shows the students in each grade level and the class sizes. Class sizes were discussed.
Initial Attendance Area Scenarios
Dan Bacon provided the task force with an initial scenario. In Scenario 1, the southern boundary of the Robert Asp attendance area would be along Center Avenue to 14th Street, south to Main Avenue, east to 20th Street, south to 12th Avenue S., east to 34th Street, north to Highway 10, east to the Dilworth School District boundary, around the south border of the Dilworth boundary, and east again to the Moorhead School District boundary. There would be 766 students, less 30 Spanish Immersion students, making the count 736 at Robert Asp.
The northern edge of the Ellen Hopkins attendance area would extend from the River along Center Avenue to 14th Street S., south one block to Main Avenue, along Main to 20th Street. The east boundary is 20th Street from Main Avenue to I-94. The southern edge of the boundary is I-94 to the Red River. This area would have 757 students, plus an additional 98 Spanish Immersion students, for a total count of 855 students.
The northern edge of the Reinertsen attendance area would be from the River, east along I-94 to 20th Street S., north on 20th Street to 12th Avenue S., east along 12th Avenue S. to 34th Street then north along 34th Street to Highway 10 and east to the Dilworth boundary, following the south edge of the Dilworth boundary until it joins Highway 10 again, then east to the eastern edge of the district boundary. This area would include 759 students, less 68 Spanish Immersion students, for a total count of 691 students.
In Scenario 1A, the Robert Asp attendance area would remain the same. In this option, the southern edge of the Hopkins attendance area would be from the Red River at 12th Avenue, along 12th Avenue to 8th Street S., south to I-94, and east along I-94 to 20th Street S. This would include 655 students plus the addition of Spanish Immersion students for 768 students. The northern edge of the Reinertsen attendance area would be from the Red River east along 12th Avenue to 8th Street S., south to I-94, and east on I-94 to 20th Street S., north on 20th Street to 12th Avenue S., east along 12th Avenue S. to 34th Street then north along 34th Street to Highway 10 and east to the Dilworth boundary until it joins Highway 10 again, then east to the eastern edge of the district boundary. This area would have 861 students less 83 Spanish Immersion students for 778 students.
Dan Bacon will e-mail scenarios to members prior to the next meeting.
Next Meeting
The meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m. Nov. 20 in the Townsite Centre Board Room.