Linn-Mar enrollment jumps again; facilities plan gets final approval Grade restructuring involves building new middle school

MARION - Linn-Mar's certified enrollment is expected to jump 112 students this fall, more than twice last year's increase of 53 students, school officials reported this week.

That would bring the fast-growing district's total enrollment to 7,310 students, up from 7,198 last fall.

The report came as the Linn-Mar school board gave final approval to a district grade restructuring plan under discussion since August. The restructuring plan was folded into the district's overall strategic plan, which also was approved.

The centerpiece of the restructuring plan is the conversion of Excelsior Middle School into an eighth- and ninth-grade center. Moving ninth-graders to the center would free up space at the high school, which would serve 10th through 12th grades.

Under the plan, a new middle school would be built to replace Excelsior, and both the new school and Oak Ridge Middle School would serve grades five through seven.

Linn-Mar's seven elementary schools would drop a grade and serve either preschool or kindergarten through fourth grades.

Board members, in approving the restructuring plan, reiterated that they considered it to be the most cost-effective means of addressing the district's continuing growth.

Details have yet to be worked out, but it is expected that the restructuring plan is likely to require a bond issue.