No Redistricting Until 2018-2019, Council Rock Superintendent Requests

The Council Rock School Board discussed the long-term future of the district's facilities during a meeting Thursday evening.

The discussion was part of a wider capital planning process the district has been weighing for several years.

Options being considered include: the closure of schools, equalizing enrollment at Council Rock North and South high schools, and an overall redistricting.

However, Superintendent Robert Fraser is requesting that no major changes be implemented until the 2018-2019 school year.

Fraser said he thinks it is in the best interest of the district and its students to align the timeline of facilities changes with the completion of construction at Holland and Newtown middle schools. If school closures and redistricting are done in steps, some students may be redistricted two times, he said.

“I just don’t have any interest in redistricting any student twice,” Fraser said.

Fraser said the cost savings associated with closing a school is a one-time savings. By closing a school before Council Rock is prepared to redistrict, that savings “would be done potentially at the expense of some of these students who would be redistricted twice.”

He also requested additional planning time so the administration could handle the work load required for major facility changes as well carry out its core focus — teaching and learning.

Thursday’s meeting provided the opportunity for board members to offer feedback to the administration as it formulates a plan to present to the public.

Most school board members spoke in favor of closing Richboro Middle School.

Board member Bill Foster said he supports closing Wrightstown Elementary. The closure would make fiscal sense for the district, as the cost per student is higher at the K-4 school, Foster said. Wrighstown was transitioned to a K-4 school at the start of this year.

No formal proposals were presented during the meeting.

A timeline of when the administration will present a plan has not been finalized yet.