Six months of public forums and debate finally came to a head Monday night, as the Davenport School Board voted to continue open enrollment at the high school level.
With a 4 to 3 vote, the board passed a new transfer option policy. Under the plan, students will still be allowed to enroll at any of the district's high schools (North, Central, or West), regardless of where their family lives. Students, though, who choose to enroll at a school outside their boundaried attendance area will be responsible for their own transportation.
It's a different case for elementary and middle school students, who must enroll at the school within the boundary of the attendance area where they live.
In an effort to reduce overcrowding at certain schools like Harrison, Washington and Garfield, the new transfer policy is stricter. Transfers for elementary and middle school students will only be approved for health and safety reasons, or if they meet the district's diversity plan and No Child Left Behind legislation. Transfers will also only be allowed to schools that do not exceed 85 percent capacity.
Superintendent Art Tate also presented a final recommendation for the elementary and middle school boundaries Monday night. That recommendation eliminated proposed changes to Harrison and Eisenhower Elementary School boundaries after feedback from parents. A vote on those is expected at the June 24th board meeting.