Attendance boundaries not set in stone at Linn-Mar school district

MARION - Changes in school attendance boundaries, periodically a hot topic in the fast-growing Linn-Mar school district, appear to be headed back to the discussion table.

New Superintendent Quintin Shepherd, during a work session Monday, indicated to school board members that he probably would be looking to them for strategic guidance on boundaries and early childhood development, possibly as early as the board's next work session.

It is scheduled for 5 p.m. Aug. 24 and will be followed by a formal meeting at 7 p.m.

Attendance boundaries last received extensive discussion in the fall 2013, with a committee deadlocked, 7-7, on two proposals. The school board unanimously broke the deadlock in December, and changes were implemented for the 2014-15 school year.

The purpose of the 2013 discussion was to equalize future attendance at Linn-Mar's two middle schools. Rising enrollment is prompting administrators to look more closely at incoming open-enrollment requests based on available space.

Also Monday, school board members were told that construction at Linn-Mar High School was on schedule. In addition, the high school will be using a lottery system to limit student parking.

Linn-Mar High School Principal Jeff Gustafson said the parking lottery is a safety-related step. The school has '900 parking spaces and 1,400 drivers,” he said.