12/08/11 The public is encouraged to attend a meeting on the re-districting of the Plymouth elementary school population on December 12. Dr. Jerome McKibben, McKibben Demographic Research, has been reviewing the data concerning enrollment for the entire Plymouth Schools. He will be giving a final report at the meeting on Monday night at Menominee Elementary at6:30 p.m.
To comply with federal mandates, school districts must maintain a balance of race/ethnicity, numbers of students who qualify for free and reduced services, and students who qualify for services due to placement in ELL classes for those with limited English speaking and/or writing skills.
The actual re-districting, if warranted, could affect the student population of each of the four elementary schools in the Plymouthsystem. Students in grades kindergarten through 4th grade attend one of the elementary schools and then all converge into Riverside Intermediate for grades 5-6.
The demographic study will also include projections of students from private schools that are within the school district.
According to Plymouth Superintendent Dan Tyree, the re-districting that will be in place for the 2012-0213 school year will not affect many students. Tyree said, “Literally, only a few students will be affected by this other than those presently going to Washington Elementary.”
Washingtonwill be converted into theDiscoveryAcademyfor project-based learning. At an earlier meeting, McKibben said that 129 current students who reside within walking distance would be reassigned toWashingtonand the rest of the students would be assigned to other elementary schools. Enrollment for additional students at theDiscoveryAcademywill be by application. The application process is open to any elementary student no matter where they live. TheDiscoveryAcademycan service 75 students per grade, according to current Washington Principal Michele Riise. The mix of students accepted would be based on a number of criteria including those used for determining re-districting.
McKibben was hired approximately five years ago to perform a similar study of enrollment projections, boundary modifications, and demographic analysis and migration for the Plymouth Schools.
Carol Anders Correspondent
