2009 Boundary Adjustments Proposal

The Boundary Advisory Committee began its work in October 2008. Committee members heard from Rick Brammer, a demographer hired by the district to identify current and historic demographic, development and enrollment trends, and to anticipate future growth in the district. 

The committee reviewed a large amount of data on school enrollment and community growth, information that needed to be considered during the boundary review process.  The committee used the data to help develop and consider possible options for attendance boundaries. 

 The committee looked at several factors as it prepared options to be presented to the community and ultimately to the Board.  The Board established guiding principles to be used during the boundary study process.  The committee considered the following:

·         Building capacity

·         Making the best possible use of existing facilities

·         Current enrollment and anticipated enrollment growth 
          for each school

·         Moving away from a feeder system to a partial feeder  
          system along with a geographical or residence-based
          system

·         Cultural and socioeconomic balance, to the extent
          practical

·         Proximity of schools to where students live

·         Transportation considerations

·         Keeping neighborhoods/geographical areas together

·         Student safety considerations

·         Minimizing added expenses

Currently, the district operates under what is called a feeder system.  The feeder patterns designate the schools that students attend as they graduate from one level to the next. Under the new proposal, a student's street address or geographical area will determine the schools that he/she will attend.

The geographical, or residence-based system, is more efficient and cost effective when it comes to transporting students. Most school districts in the area have moved away from a “pure feeder system.”  Those school district include the following: Independence, North Kansas City, Fort Osage, Park Hill, Kearney, and Raytown.  Blue Springs offiers a partial feeder system elementary to middle school only.

The proposed recommendation for Liberty schools utilizes a combination feeder and residence-based system.

The options were presented at a Public Information Meeting on January 6, 2009, at 7 p.m. at the Liberty Community Center.  The committee listened to questions and comments from the community during the meeting.  The Boundary Advisory Committee will make a recommendation to the Board of Education on February 17, 2009.

Please refer to the proposed scenario maps and proposed neighborhood adjustments tab to review the plan.