Erica Bower

This document outlines a two-phase plan for the Alamance Burlington School System addressing current and projected school capacity challenges. Phase one focuses on immediate adjustments for the 2026-2027 academic year, primarily through revising elementary and select middle school boundaries (Southern Alamance, Graham, Broadview) to balance enrollment, reduce reliance on mobile classrooms, and safeguard specialized learning spaces. Phase two emphasizes a long-term facility master plan, including renovations, expansions, and new school construction, to accommodate a projected increase of 3,000 students by 2030 and ensure sustainable and high-quality learning environments. The plan prioritizes student safety, reduced transportation times, and transparency through extensive community engagement.

This document details the Alamance Burlington School System's strategic approach to managing significant student enrollment growth and facility challenges. The plan focuses on immediate solutions through elementary and middle school boundary adjustments to balance student enrollment, reduce overcrowding, and improve transportation efficiency over the next five years. It also outlines the necessity for a long-term facility master plan to acquire new capacity and modernize existing buildings for sustained growth beyond 2030, ensuring safe, supportive learning environments and appropriate class sizes for all students, with a commitment to transparency and community engagement.

The meeting initiated a work session to discuss the student assignment rezoning process, which partners with the NC State School Camp organization. Key topics included reviewing the enrollment forecast projecting significant student growth until the 2034-2035 school years, which is not equally distributed geographically. The board reviewed best practices for linking student assignment and facilities planning, emphasizing the need to update school capacities to reflect modern education needs, staffing, and curriculum delivery, rather than relying solely on original architectural blueprints. The presenters detailed the project timeline, noting ongoing work with principals on capacity review and community engagement efforts. These efforts include a community survey, meetings with principals, engagement with a community advisory board, and upcoming open community meetings. The objective is to present solutions in March based on collected data, priorities, and an analysis of current classroom databases and facility conditions.

The Alamance-Burlington School System's Master Plan outlines a strategic approach to student assignment and educational facilities, based on a five-year review of K-12 enrollment and district facilities. It is structured in two phases: Phase 1 focuses on establishing balanced school boundaries through 2030, and Phase 2 details a comprehensive educational facility master plan for 2026-2028. The core objectives include addressing enrollment shifts, optimizing facility capacity, ensuring equitable program access, and providing safe and supportive learning environments. The plan emphasizes community engagement, data-driven decisions, and strategic adjustments to school boundaries to manage projected growth and foster long-term sustainability.

The meeting commenced with a moment of silence and the pledge of allegiance, followed by the approval of the agenda and the minutes from two previous August meetings. Key discussions included the recognition of two outstanding leaders, Principal of the Year Miss Aaron Milspa and Assistant Principal of the Year Miss Nikki O'Neal. Public comments addressed concerns regarding the lack of speech language pathologist services and potential violations of disability laws, as well as issues related to academic growth standards and reports of inappropriate conduct by a high school principal. The board then moved into a conversation regarding the process for developing new school attendance zones for elementary and middle schools for the 2026-2027 school year, involving ORED for zone development and future community feedback sessions.