Cedar Rapids school board hears first report on enrollment study

A detailed color-coded map is one key to the Cedar Rapids school district's future.

Rob Schwarz of RSP & Associates of Overland Park, Kan., walked through the projection model his company will use for the district's enrollment study during a school board work session Monday night.

The model identifies where current students live and will, when the study is completed, illustrate the greatest potential for development for the next five years and beyond.

“We're trying to get an understanding of what is happening in the district,” Schwarz said.

Focusing on the Harrison Elementary School neighborhood as an example, Schwarz said the area is a concern because of the potential homes that will be eliminated because of the 2008 flood.

Several damaged homes in the area have already been demolished by the city.

Superintendent Dave Benson said it is too early in the  process to identify schools or neighborhoods that could see change as the result of the study.

“But we do know the flood had an impact,” Benson said.

The school district is focusing on two studies this school year - enrollment and facilities - in a long-term effort to best utilize resources. The last time the district had an in-depth enrollment and facilities study was 20 years ago, according to school board president John Laverty.

The district had started the process during the 2007-08 school year, but the committee of district administrators, teachers, city leaders and community members met only once before before floodwaters ravaged the city. The issue was tabled for two years.

Both studies will take the 2010-11 school year to complete. Benson stressed again Monday night that the time is necessary so the best and most informed decisions can be made.

“We're going to take our time. We're going to study this closely,” Benson said.

The results of both studies will be presented to the board this summer.  They will eventually be combined and the start of the 2011-12 school year will launch the public engagement process.

“The earliest any implementation will be is the 2012-13 school year,” Benson said.

RSP & Associates was awarded a $148,000 contract in November to provide services for the enrollment study. According to the contract timeline, RSP will complete an enrollment analysis report, a facility planning and analysis report and a demographic analysis during this school year.

The facilities study will be completed by Shive-Hattery Inc. for $198,000. The firm was awarded a contract in November to lead the process to rank the district's facilities needs based on long-range, midrange and immediate future.

The target dates for the completed facilities studies are April for the elementary schools, and July for the middle and high schools.