Cape rolls out timeline to set new school boundaries

Cape Henlopen Superintendent Robert Fulton has proposed a tentative timeline for developing new attendance boundaries for district schools that would go into effect in fall 2017.

New boundaries will be needed when the district's new elementary school on Route 24 opens. Fulton has recommended setting boundaries for all five elementary schools and the district's two middle schools before the 2017-18 school year.

“There will be plenty of opportunity to share what we think,” he said.

During the May 28 school board meeting, Fulton offered an example of a possible timeline for redistricting. First on the list is designing guiding principles, he said. He said he expects the principles to be completed in August.

Balancing socioeconomic status in every school should be a primary consideration, Fulton said. Students should also attend neighborhood schools, or a school closest to them, and transportation costs should be considered, he said.

“We don't want to split up neighborhoods,” he said.

Once guiding principles are in place, Fulton said he expects a redistricting committee to be chosen by Sept. 15, 2015. Tasks and meetings are scheduled at monthly intervals, including  committee meetings, public forums, a school board presentation and final vote before families would be notified by July 16, 2016.

Fulton said the board could vote on the redistricting plan by June 16, 2016, if the timeline schedule is followed.