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<\/p>\nThe information below was updated on November 8, 2025.<\/p>\n
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Community Updates<\/a> | Upcoming Meetings<\/a> | Current K-5 Boundary Maps<\/a><\/p>\n A consultant-led K\u20135 Enrollment and Capacity Study is underway to evaluate and balance student enrollment across the district\u2019s five elementary schools. The study may result in adjustments to elementary school attendance zones.<\/p>\n Currently, Glenmont and Eagle Elementary Schools are operating at or near capacity, while Elsmere, Hamagrael, and Slingerlands are being underutilized and have unused classroom space. Superintendent Jody Monroe\u00a0outlined a plan for the study in May<\/a>, highlighting enrollment trends at the district\u2019s five elementary schools that have affected the distribution of K-5 students within the district. Over the past decade, Eagle and Glenmont have experienced steady enrollment growth, while Elsmere, Hamagrael, and Slingerlands have seen double-digit enrollment declines during the same period.<\/p>\n The district hired an independent consultant, Tyler Technologies, to lead the K-5 Enrollment and Capacity Study. The district also appointed a committee of stakeholders, including parent representatives, faculty, staff, and administrators, to help guide the work of the consultant. The committee members, who are volunteers,\u00a0 meet regularly with Tyler Technologies.\u00a0<\/p>\n Tyler Technologies is expected to present formal recommendations for adjusting the elementary boundaries to the Board of Education in December or January.\u00a0<\/p>\n No recommendations have been made and no boundary map changes have been presented or discussed.<\/p>\n A community forum has been scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Bethlehem Central Middle School to present accurate, up-to-date information about the zones study and to gather feedback. A questionnaire will be sent before the meeting to gather community questions.<\/p>\n Community updates During the Nov. 5\u00a0 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Jody Monroe provided an update from the latest committee meeting, held Nov. 3.\u00a0<\/p>\n Highlights from the Nov. 5 Board of Education update:<\/p>\n No elementary boundary changes have been proposed. K-5 enrollment has declined 20.5% between 2005-06 and 2024-25; however, the projected trend is for modest increases in enrollment in grades K-5. The impact of the current enrollment imbalance was discussed:<\/p>\n Class section enrollment is more uneven across the district than in the past and small class size targets are increasingly harder to meet. Committee members have agreed on class size targets for elementary schools at 18-22 (K-18, Gr. 1-18, Gr. 2-19, Gr. 3-20, Gr. 4-21, Gr. 5-22). These are not maximum class sizes, but are guidelines for enrolling class sections in the future. Identifying this target provides an important guidepost for the consultant, Tyler Technologies, to design balanced enrollment options. Board of Education Meeting \u2013 Oct. 22, 2025<\/p>\n During the Oct. 22 Board of Education meeting, representatives from Tyler Technologies\u2014the data and mapping firm leading the study\u2014along with a committee of district stakeholders, provided an update on their progress. This was the second committee update to the Board of Education.<\/a><\/p>\n You can view the Oct. 22 Board of Education meeting here (YouTube).<\/a><\/p>\n Key highlights:<\/p>\n The consultant\u2019s work is still preliminary; no proposed boundary changes have been presented. The committee will meet again twice in November, followed by a community meeting on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library Media Center at Bethlehem Central Middle School. This meeting will be open to the public.<\/p>\n Community feedback collected in November will help shape the recommendations presented to the Board of Education in December. Tyler Technologies plans to offer multiple options for improving enrollment equity across the five schools.<\/p>\n
\nBoard of Education Meeting \u2013 Nov. 5, 2025<\/p>\n
\nThe stakeholder committee of 30 parents, faculty, staff, and administrators (representing all five schools) has met three times, most recently on Nov. 3.
\nEnrollment data, trends and projections were reviewed and discussed:<\/p>\n
\nK-5 enrollment has shifted considerably over the last several years, with Eagle and Glenmont at or near capacity, while enrollment at Elsmere, Hamagrael and Eagle has declined.\u00a0
\nThere is available space across the district to balance enrollment and alleviate overcrowding at Eagle and Glenmont. Currently, 15 elementary classrooms are available districtwide.
\nShifts in the elementary boundaries are necessary to address changing enrollment patterns, maximize resources and physical space across the district and improve teaching and learning for all students.<\/p>\n
\nStudents are being reassigned to schools other than their home schools in large numbers. Currently, 130 students are assigned to schools outside their home school zone (39 general education students, 13 English as a New Language (ENL) students; and 78 special education students).
\nStaff in overcrowded buildings compete for shared materials and space.
\nCrowding can create noisy, stressful environments that impede focus and learning.
\nInequity in workload, support, and facilities can lead to dissatisfaction and lower staff morale.<\/p>\n
\nThe committee refined its initial feedback on what constitutes a \u201cneighborhood\u201d within each school attendance zone. Tyler Technologies will consider committee feedback to determine Neighborhood Planning Units (NPUs) when mapping the options that will be presented to the public.
\nThe committee will meet again on November 12 to review preliminary options from Tyler Technologies for balancing enrollment.
\nThere will be an update to the Board of Education on the committee\u2019s progress on November 19.
\nA community meeting will be held on Thursday, Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library Media Center at Bethlehem Central Middle School. This meeting will be open to the public. A questionnaire will be sent ahead of the meeting to gather questions. Community feedback collected in November will help shape the recommendations presented to the Board of Education in December. Tyler Technologies plans to offer multiple options for balancing enrollment across the five schools<\/p>\n
\nThe stakeholder committee of 30 parents, faculty, staff, and administrators (representing all five schools) has met twice, most recently on Oct. 15.
\nCommittee members emphasized that maintaining small class sizes should remain a top priority in balancing enrollment.
\nTyler Technologies shared an initial \u201csensitivity analysis\u201d of enrollment projections and class size targets.
\nThe committee provided feedback to Tyler to help define what constitutes a \u201cneighborhood\u201d within each school attendance zone.
\nTyler will use this feedback to develop mapping \u201cplanning units\u201d that could form the basis for new boundary options.<\/p>\n