The Derby Public School Board voted unanimously to redraw the boundaries for their elementary and middle schools.
Forums were held in January to get community input on the school boundaries. An online form was also available until the end of January for community input.
An advisory committee was formed to take use the input, along with data to develop a proposal for new boundaries. The school board held a workshop on the proposals on March 11 and they held a final discussion and vote Monday evening.
Some board members voiced concerns over shrinking the size of Oaklawn and El Paso Elementary Schools, with board member Justin Kippenberger suggesting they revisit the Oaklawn boundaries when work is completed to increase the capacity at Oaklawn Elementary. Board member Mark May expressed concern over El Paso Elementary, which will lose over 50% of its students, but said he didn’t know of a better solution.
Superintendent Heather Bohaty says El Paso isn’t the only school that is impacted, and that Derby Hills would also be losing about half of its students. She said however that the schools will be working to help make the transition process smoother for the students.
The final vote approving the changes was 6-0. The changes will go into effect for the 2020-2021 school year.
To view the current school boundaries, click here. The view the new boundaries, click here.
(Photo courtesy Derby Public Schools/Facebook)
