Shakopee School Board Approves Preliminary Boundary Map for New Junior Highs

The gave its preliminary approval for the two junior high schools’ proposed attendance areas for 2012-2013 at its Jan. 23 meeting.

The criteria taken into consideration included student body size, class sizes, grade configuration, walking distance, transportation efficiency and balancing student service needs and interventions, according to a school district news release.

The current middle school, which will serve grades 7 to 9 starting this fall, is referred to on the proposed attendance area map as “East.” The current junior high school, which will also serve grades 7 to 9, is referred to as “West." East and West are not the permanent names for the schools. The board will form a naming committee to determine names later this year. The board has approved Pearson 6^th Grade Center as the name for that building.

The proposed plan for the attendance areas aligns with current elementary school attendance areas. All of the area included in the and attendance areas are assigned to the east building. The east portion of the attendance area and the northern portion of the area are also assigned to the east building.

The plan has the least expensive impact on the district’s transportation budget, the news release said. It is also neighborhood friendly in that the division occurs between backyards and houses facing different streets. In addition, it uses the natural traffic flow patterns from neighborhoods west of Marschall Road.

Students attending either of the two junior high schools or the 6^th grade center must live at least one mile from the school to use school district-provided busing. 

Public meetings for community members to ask questions and comment on the plan will be held:

 •           Jan. 25 and 30 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the district board room at 505 Holmes Street South

 •           Feb. 2 at 7 p.m. at the auditorium

 •           Feb. 8 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the school district board room

 •           Informational presentations will also be made at the junior high school registration nights Feb. 16 and 23 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Shakopee High School auditorium.

Anyone with questions can call the superintendent’s office at (952) 496-5006.