Redistricting on the Agenda for Park Hill Board of Education This Evening

Art Credit: KC Education Enterprise | Photo Credit: 123rf stock image | Logo Credit: Park Hill School District

The Park Hill School District’s Board of Education will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 29.

In addition to more routine items on the agenda, such as overseeing personnel changes and issuing an early diploma to a student who will be in military boot camp on graduation day, board members have a full schedule.

The most significant item on tonight’s agenda is possible approval of the redistricting committee’s final recommendation.

Many parents have expressed concerns about moving children to other schools or splitting up neighborhoods into different attendance areas. However, according to the redistricting report, these concerns were not the committee’s top priority. Rather, committee members emphasized maintaining a balance of students from different socioeconomic backgrounds in each elementary school. Two other top priorities for the committee were enrolling approximately the same number of children in each building and keeping population growth predictions in mind.

Many parents have also asked permission for their fifth-grade students to finish elementary school at their current locations, and the committee’s final recommendation includes this option.

Because the district’s new elementary will open next spring, it was necessary to redesign attendance areas for all elementary schools. A redistricting committee identified two options to present to the public for comment before making their final recommendation, taking community response into account. Community members provided almost 900 responses online and at three public meetings.

Park Hill’s board meeting, which is open to the public, will take place in the district’s Education Center; 7703 N.W. Barry Road; Kansas City, MO 64153.

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