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Board to discuss school capacity challenges at Folsom secondary schools
The Folsom Cordova (FCUSD) Board of Education on Thursday will consider a package of staff recommendations intended to alleviate overcrowding at Folsom secondary schools and accommodate families living in the district’s and schools’ boundaries as enrollment continues to grow.
A number of factors are creating the challenge. Vista del Lago High School has seen an increasing number of approved transfers of students from both outside and inside of the FCUSD boundaries, as well as new students within its own attendance boundaries. With space filling and limited options for facility expansion at Vista del Lago, Folsom High School is anticipated to absorb immediate enrollment growth.
At the Board’s upcoming meeting, staff members will recommend the following:
- Starting in the 2017-18 school year, eliminate transfers from students outside of FCUSD’s boundaries (inter-district transfers) into Vista del Lago High, Folsom High, Folsom Middle and Sutter Middle schools. Currently enrolled inter-district transfers would be allowed to continue at their current site.
- Students living in the portion of Folsom city limits that is not in FCUSD’s boundaries would continue to be allowed inter-district transfers to Sutter Middle and Folsom High schools only.
- Students of district employees (certificated and full-time classified) may be admitted, based on space available.
- Currently enrolled (inter-district transfers) students at secondary Folsom schools would be allowed to continue at the current school, as long as they continue to meet the criteria of the (inter-district transfers) agreement.
- Limit choice (intra-district transfers) into Folsom Middle, Sutter Middle, Vista del Lago High and Folsom High schools as capacity allows, in accordance with existing Board policy.
Enrollment growth will continue to be a challenge as developers are expected to start building new homes south of Highway 50 in Folsom in future years.
We encourage families to read staff’s full report to the Board, which can be found here. It includes history of Board policy and District practice related to school capacity, enrollment trends and projections, and additional options that will be presented to Board members.
The complete board agenda item, with additional informational materials, can be found here, under Discussion/Action Item XIII.d.
The Board will consider the proposal at its next regular meeting, Thursday, Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. in the Education Services Center, 1965 Birkmont Drive in Rancho Cordova.
We understand that any discussion of school choice and capacity must consider the impact to students and families, and we recognize that some members of our school communities may have questions or concerns as we enter this year’s registration period. District staff members are recommending these solutions to minimize the impact to our families while ensuring there is enough room in our schools to accommodate those who live in our school and district boundaries.
If you have questions or would like to offer feedback on the proposal, please feel free to contact our office of Business Services at jmagowan@fcusd.org or (916) 294-9004.