Scottsdale Governing Board To Discuss Plan That Addresses
Challenges Of Growth And Overcrowding In Northern Tier Of District

Options to accommodate growth and to relieve the overcrowding of schools in the northern tier of the Scottsdale Unified School District will be presented to the Governing Board at its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday, June 4. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Desert Mountain High School, 12575 E. Via Linda in Scottsdale.

"Now that we have all the information, including enrollment projections, school capacity figures, and recommended solutions to facility issues, we will be presenting possible short-term options, five-to-seven years, to the Board for alleviating the schools that are overcrowded, without the addition of new facilities," said Dr. Bill Johnson, chief of facilities and operations.

At its meeting last November 27, following the defeat at the ballot box of bond and maintenance and operation (M&O) budget override elections, the Governing Board charged the administration with developing a plan for the 2003-2004 school year to address the growth and overcrowding issues in the northern tier of the district, without the building of any new facilities. Further, the Board requested that the plan be in place at least one year prior to any changes in school attendance areas or feeder patterns taking place.

In developing options for the Board to consider, Dr. Johnson indicated the following established criteria was used:

• Disrupt as few families and children as possible, as few times as possible, while creating a short-term plan to hold the district for the next five-to-seven years, with the long-term in mind.
• Minimize costs and time associated with the transportation of students.
• Maintain all existing instructional programs at the campuses.
• Maintain neighborhood schools, whenever possible.
• Be cost effective, equitable, and fair.
• Consider changing complex feeder patterns as necessary.
• Maximize the utilization of our current facilities.
• Balance enrollment with school capacity.
• Offer choice to parents whenever possible.

"It is important that our community understand that whatever we do now is a short-term solution to a long-term problem," Dr. Johnson said. "Ultimate equalization will depend on what the community chooses to do with its school facilities."
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