Wichita BOE redistricting heads to public comment, discussion
The Wichita Public Schools Board of Education will discuss redistricting its members, as well as listen to public feedback, at its Monday meeting.
The school board shifts its representative area every 10 years in response to Census data. Currently, districts one, two and six exceed the recommended district target population of 54,416. Those districts are represented by Betty Arnold, Connie Dietz and Lynn Rogers, respectively.
At its Aug. 27 meeting, the board was presented two maps. One option emphasized moving the least number of people in and out of the district, while a second proposal would have brought a high school into each district.
The first plan was favored.
"When we start involving a large number, it creates more confusion, and I think it does less good because of that," said Arnold. "I really want to emphasize that our concern really should focus on the number of individuals that we will be impacting."
In the plan, Clark Elementary would shift from District 2 to District 3, represented by Barbara Fuller. The Gateway Alternative Program Center would move from District 1 to 6, while precincts on the southeast side of District 6 would go to District 4 to accommodate the addition.
"This would impact two schools, 11 precincts and about 15,800 citizens," said Diane Gjerstad, Wichita USD 259 government relations director.
The second plan would have moved eight schools, 18 precincts and 28,885 residents.
A final vote is slated for later in September.
A map of the changes can be found here.
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