Second plan released on Iowa City school boundaries

IOWA CITY - The Iowa City school district is adding another redistricting proposal to the mix after a first round of feedback from district residents.

The school system released the initial redistricting proposal last month as part of its efforts to help ease overcrowding at Grant Wood Elementary in southeast Iowa City and North Central Junior High in North Liberty. Officials also hope to bring the percentage of students in the free and reduced-price lunch program at its elementary schools closer to the district average.

The second plan incorporates suggestions made by members of the public during district forums, and Assistant Superintendent Ann Feldmann said both the new proposal and the original one are now under consideration.

The district has planned two more public forums to get input on the new proposals: 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Van Allen Elementary Gymnasium and 7 to 8:30 p.m. April 19 at the Grant Wood Elementary Gymnasium.

Feldmann said residents' feedback has been useful so far, and further changes are possible based on reactions to the new proposals.

“There have been lots of good questions answered,” she said. “We're anxious to hear next week if there are other ideas.”

The changes would go into effect for the 2013-14 school year. For more information along with a map of the new proposal, visit the Iowa City Community School District website and click "UPDATED 2013-14 Redistricting Information."

According to the new Draft 2 plan posted on the school district's website Thursday evening, elementary level boundaries would change by:

• Moving 91 students who live along Taylor Drive, Davis Street and Bancroft Drive from Grant Wood to Longfellow Elementary.
• Moving 104 students who live in the Windsor Ridge and Redwing Estates neighborhoods from Longfellow to Mark Twain Elementary.
• Moving 69 students who live in the Lake Ridge neighborhood from Mark Twain to Hills Elementary.