Ballyshannon Middle School at 110% capacity as district considers solutions

The Boone County School Board authorized the formation of the ‘Demographics and Growth Committee’ to assess the feasibility of relocating some students to alleviate overcrowding at Ballyshannon Middle School.

According to data presented to the school board by Pupil Personnel representative Kimberly Hutson, Ballyshannon Middle School is at 110% of capacity, with that figure projected to reach 138% if current growth patterns continue. Huston said Ballyshannon is one of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in Boone County.

With that in mind, the Boone County School Board called a special meeting on Thursday to begin discussing the steps for possible middle school redistricting. No redistricting maps or boundary changes were approved at this meeting; instead, the meeting focused on formally establishing a Demographics and Growth Committee to study data and make recommendations for potential future action.

“There’s no action on any maps or redistricting or anything happening tonight,” Board Member Jesse Parks said. “All we’re doing is getting together to — if the board so decides to make a committee — review the demographics and growth in this area of the county.”

Going forward, the committee will evaluate limited redistricting options, including moving students from Ballyshannon to Camp Ernst, a small number from Ballyshannon to Gray, and a small number from Conner to Camp Ernst.

Hutson said Camp Ernst Middle School is currently at 53% capacity following a recent expansion, which would allow the school to accommodate more students if redistricting were approved. The expansion has left Camp Ernst Middle School technically under capacity.

Before the meeting’s business began, Ashley Lane, a parent, shared concerns that the potential redistricting of her street could separate her child from established peer relationships, thereby causing social disruption during the middle school transition.

“I just think that that can cause some social anxiety, some mental duress, on those few kids to pull away from these established relationships that they’ve made, to then have to just come back and pick those back up and start over again,” she said.

As part of its work, the committee will consider providing relief for overcrowded schools while improving student transportation efficiency by establishing clear boundaries, reducing cross-district crossings, and, where possible, improving bus travel times and distances. 

The committee will also, when possible, seek to limit school boundaries that divide neighborhoods and communities, maintain socioeconomic balance across schools, and account for geographic boundaries and potential changes to road infrastructure.

Chris Brock, the director of Pupil Personnel, explained who would be on the board.

“As far as the Demographic and Growth committee members, we have a principal along with parent representative from each impacted school,” Brock said. “There are district office staff that are part of the committee also. We work very closely with planning and zoning, and then we have two board members that are also a part of the committee.”

In addition, Brock laid out the prospective schedule for the decision-making process:

• Week of February 2: notification letters sent to impacted families
• Maps with scenarios will be displayed at all affected schools, including feeder elementary schools, the district office, and the Ralph Rush Professional Development Center

• Public forums:
  • February 11 – Camp Ernst Middle School
  • February 17 – Ballyshannon Middle School

• Committee meetings (not open to the public, working sessions): 
  • February 19
  • February 26 (if needed)

• Final committee recommendation to the school board

• April 15: grandfathering applications due

• April 16: school choice window reopens