Title: Tentative Approval of Attendance Boundary Change--Elbridge Gale Elementary School

Recommendation:
I recommend that the School Board provide tentative approval for the Advisory Boundary Committee's recommendation of Boundary Study U-1, modifying attendance boundaries for Discovery Key, Elbridge Gale, Equestrian Trails and Panther Run elementary schools.

Description: · This recommendation revises boundaries for the new Elbridge Gale Elementary School (02-U), located at 1915 Royal Fern Drive in Wellington.  The school is under construction and is scheduled to open in August 2006 with capacity for 964 students.
· A temporary boundary was established for Elbridge Gale Elementary School in May 2005, in order to provide essential enrollment relief to Equestrian Trails Elementary School.  The interim site opened in August 2005 on the campus of Wellington Landings Middle School with 283 students.
· Boundary Study U-1 establishes full boundaries for Elbridge Gale Elementary School, while providing enrollment relief to Discovery Key, Equestrian Trails and Panther Run elementary schools.
· Additional enrollment relief is planned in 2008 with the opening of three new elementary schools in the region: Royal Palm Beach area Elementary School 03-W, expected to provide relief for Cholee Lake, Cypress Trails, Equestrian Trails and Royal Palm Beach elementary schools; Wellington area Elementary School 05-B, expected to provide relief for New Horizons, Panther Run and Wellington elementary schools and West Boynton Beach area Elementary School 03-Z, expected to provide relief for Discovery Key, Hagen Road and Hidden Oaks elementary schools.
· A Community Input Meeting was held on September 15, 2005.  Notification was provided to parents of students potentially affected by the changes, as well as principals of schools included in the boundary study and planning directors of potentially affected municipalities.  A summary of comments received at the Community Input Meeting is attached.
· During the Community Input Meeting, parents from the Black Diamond development (SAC 156R) expressed opposition to the proposed change from Equestrian Trails Elementary School to Elbridge Gale Elementary School.  Some parents indicated that they had only recently moved to the area and did not want children to change again, while others suggested that the mix of students from different housing types would not be appropriate for their children, and that other neighborhoods should be moved instead.
· On September 22, 2005, the ABC unanimously recommended (6-0) Boundary Study U-1 for the Superintendent's review.

Financial Impact:
There is no financial impact.

For Additional Information, contact:
Joseph M. Moore/Joseph M. Sanches

Attachments (list):
Boundary Study U-1.pdf
Boundary Study U-1 Effects Table.pdf
Boundary Study U-1 Map.pdf
Boundary Study U-1 Community Input Summary.pdf
Boundary Study U-1 Walk Map.pdf
Boundary Study U-1 Feeder Pattern Table.pdf