Iowa City school district preparing for opening of Garner Elementary

IOWA CITY - The Iowa City school district has received 27 transfer forms from students who wish to remain Penn and Van Allen elementary schools next year.

“It's actually less than what we expected,” said Jim Behle, the district's associate superintendent.

The district mailed a letter to families in North Liberty that were identified as those with children who will attend Garner Elementary School for the 2010-11 school year.

Students were identified based on recent boundary changes.

Parents with children who will be in fifth and sixth grades next year had the option of completing a transfer form, which would allow their children to finish their elementary education at Penn or Van Allen.

It's an offer the district gives to older elementary students each time the district opens a new elementary school. The offer doesn't extend to younger siblings, and parents are responsible for their child's transportation to and from school.

Parents had until Monday to return their transfer forms to the district office.

“We could have more trickle in over the next couple of days,” Behle said.

The district is estimating an enrollment of 330 to 350 students at Garner in the fall. Currently, Van Allen has an enrollment of 661 students. Penn's enrollment is 511 students.

The district has hired some staff for Garner based on preliminary enrollment numbers, including Mindy Paulsen as the school's principal. Paulsen served as principal at Roosevelt Elementary School since the 2000-01 school year.