JCPS committee advances new boundary line policy

The policy committee for Jefferson City Public Schools has voted unanimously to advance new rules that would prompt regular evaluations of school boundary lines.

The JCPS Board of Education approved new boundary lines earlier this year to accommodate the addition of Capital City High School. It was the first time the boundary lines had changed in more than 25 years, board member Ken Enloe said.

The district does not have a current policy for evaluating or changing boundary lines, so the board has only done so with the addition of a new school building. Before the recent change for the new high school, the last boundary line assessment occurred in 1990-91.

Enloe said that although the lines have not changed in decades, student populations at schools never became significantly unbalanced.

Under the proposal, which still requires approval from the Board of Education, staff would produce a report for the board every year. The report would detail enrollment numbers across the district.

Enloe said the policy would give the board the ability to review the boundary lines every year, but would require an evaluation every three years.

The JCPS Board of Education will consider putting the policy into effect at its January meeting.