By Megan Decker
Staff Writer
SAGINAW COUNTY – The Frankenmuth School District has grown this week because of the Saginaw Intermediate School District Board of Education moving a portion of the recently dissolved Buena Vista School District into the Frankenmuth district.
In a special meeting held on Tuesday, the Saginaw Intermediate School District Board of Education moved to divide the Buena Vista district among the neighboring Saginaw, Bridgeport-Spaulding and Frankenmuth school districts.
The Frankenmuth School District’s boundary will now move approximately two miles west to include land in Buena Vista Township that is east of Airport Road.
Of the approximately 400 students who were registered within the Buena Vista district in Feb. 2013, 261 will now be in the Saginaw Public District; and 135 in the Bridgeport-Spaulding district.
“The redistricting is not likely to significantly impact the Frankenmuth District,” explained Frankenmuth Superintendent Mary Anne Ackerman. “No students who lived in the area that will now be part of the Frankenmuth School District attended the Buena Vista Schools. They were attending private schools, or other public schools in the area that were accepting school of choice students. We don’t know how many of those students may now choose to attend Frankenmuth Schools; however, we will be ready to accept any enrollments that may come in.”
According to Ackerman, a number of Buena Vista Township residents spoke at the Saginaw Intermediate School District board meeting is support of having their property moved to the Frankenmuth district.
Even with the new drawn boundaries, district officials don’t know how many new students they will see in September. Students have the option of participating in schools of choice with accepting districts, or going to charter or private schools.
Frankenmuth won’t reopen schools of choice for the fall. If the Board of Education there chooses to open schools of choice for the following school year, it would be sometime next spring.
According to a news release from the Saginaw Intermediate School District Board of Education, “Saginaw ISD’s focus is 100 percent on doing what’s best for the students and families in Buena Vista, as well as the receiving districts who are accepting these new students and families to their schools. The Saginaw ISD tirelessly met with a variety of local educators, community leaders and Buena Vista parents to discuss all options in formulating this plan. The goal from the outset was to develop a strong reassignment plan that was in the best interest of the Buena Vista students and their families.”
The Saginaw Intermediate School District Board of Education could not consider Reese Public Schools in its redistricting plans because the district is located outside of its boundaries.
According to the Saginaw Intermediate School District Board, there is tentative meeting scheduled on Tuesday, Aug. 13 for parents to receive additional information about the schools’ transition. New districts have indicated that they will have counselors, principals and enrollment information available at the meeting.
Resident households within the former Buena Vista district will soon receive information on how to enroll in their new district.
Although the Buena Vista district has formally been dissolved, it will remain levying 18 mills on non-homestead properties for two to three years in order to pay off remaining debts.
For further information, contact the Saginaw Intermediate School District at (989) 249-8701.