Cedar Rapids schools doing their homework to correct enrollment imbalance

To say there's an imbalance in Cedar Rapids schools is an understatement.

In some buildings, desks are empty. In others, space is at a premium.

“We're pretty big, and there are other schools (that) are not,” said Cary Beatty, a language arts teacher at Kennedy High School. “We need to have a better balance.”

The use of the district's 24 elementaries, six middle schools and five high schools will be examined during the 2010-11 school year. The study will include a look at building conditions and student population, which has fallen by more than 1,200 students districtwide in the past decade.

If this sounds familiar, that's because it is. The district was in the process of an enrollment study in 2008 - before floodwaters ravaged Cedar Rapids.

The study was delayed so the district could cope with the aftermath of the flood. It was delayed again this year as the district coped with budget cuts.

This school year, enrollment in the district's 24 elementary schools ranges from 151 to 562 students. The middle schools range from 252 at Wilson (which also houses 269 elementary students) to 835 at Harding. High school enrollment ranges from 1,424 at Washington to 1,768 at Kennedy. Ten years ago, Kennedy was the smallest high school.

In general, the schools with the most students and most growth are in the newer, growing sections of the city. The schools in the older sections of the city, closer to the city's core, are smaller and losing enrollment.

“If we can provide a better education environment for all students, why wouldn't we?” said Wes Butterfield, a middle-school parent who was a member of the original enrollment study stakeholder committee.

The committee was comprised of more than 30 students, parents, community members and school staff. It met only once - a month before the flood. Their findings, had it not disbanded, might have resulted in recommendations to close schools or redraw district boundary lines - an issue the Iowa City school district is dealing with now.

“It's an emotional issue,” said Beatty, who was also on the enrollment committee. “A lot of people plan their lives around where their kids live and go to school.”

With some elementary school buildings bursting - Viola Gibson's enrollment of 562 students is the highest - and others not even topping 200 students, it's clear something needs to change.

It's unknown if the same committee will be involved in the study this time. Superintendent Dave Benson said it is too early to say how the district will conduct the study. He stressed that community input will be part of whatever method the district chooses.

Administrators also have addressed the enrollment decline in next year's school budget, with plans to cut 51 teachers, plus 10 other employees.

“We're dropping students, and we're making some adjustments to our staff level pursuant to student enrollment,” Benson said.

The reduction will be done through attrition and will save the district $4.2 million next year.

Steve Graham, the district's executive director of business services, said the district could save another $2.1 million by cutting an additional 22.5 teachers and 10 other staff. The option was presented to board members last week and depends on budget decisions made by the Legislature in the next couple of months.

The district has not discussed any possible cuts in programs.