Poudre School District approves boundary changes

By Cherry Sokoloski
North Forty News

School boundary changes that will impact three northern elementary schools were announced June 8 by the Poudre School District administration.

The changes, which will take effect in the 2011-12 school year, were recommended by the Elementary Boundary Steering Committee and approved by Superintendent Jerry Wilson and his cabinet.

Northern schools that will be affected include Tavelli, Irish and Cache La Poudre. Parent groups from both Tavelli and Irish objected loudly to the boundary changes, since both will lose enrollment as a result. Tavelli will lose an estimated 57 students, while Irish will lose about 93.

Cache La Poudre will gain an estimated 78 students under the plan.

A total of 1,052 elementary students will be impacted by the boundary changes, as neighborhood attendance areas are shifted from one school to another. Tavelli will lose three attendance areas, two to CLPE and one to Laurel, but will gain one from Irish.

Irish will also lose three attendance areas, two to Bauder and one to Tavelli, but will also gain three, one from CLPE and two from Putnam. CLPE will lose one area and gain two.

PSD goals were to correct noncontiguous boundaries, balance enrollment and better align elementary and middle school feeder systems.

In a letter to a Tavelli parent, Wilson acknowledged that reducing enrollment there creates a financial challenge for the school, but he said the committee and district were attempting to be "fair to all."

"The district felt there was a need to correct noncontiguous boundaries prior to the discussion of consolidating schools," Wilson wrote.

In the upcoming year, PSD will look at possible consolidations and closures. If any are recommended, the boundary committee will reconvene and, using the newly adopted boundaries, make boundary modifications prior to 2011-12.

"At times situations arise where the status quo is no longer acceptable," Wilson wrote. "Noncontiguous northern boundaries is one of these conditions. Underutilization of school facilities is another of these challenges."

Wilson also acknowledged that some students who now attend Tavelli will have longer bus rides to CLPE. However, he said, the PSD Transportation Department does not anticipate an increase in overall transportation costs as a result of the changes.

The committee also considered changing boundaries for Wellington schools to balance enrollment at Eyestone and Rice elementary schools. Because proposed adjustments would increase transportation costs, the committee recommended making no changes at this time.