Whitnall District Boundary Change Would Impact Greenfield Families

In an effort to rein in the growing enrollment at Hales Corners Elementary and beef up that at Edgerton Elementary, the Whitnall School Board will vote on a changing the boundaries that determine which school a child attends.

The affected rectangular area, a pocket of Greenfield, connects to the existing Edgerton boundary with Highway 100 on the west, Howard Avenue on the north, 92nd Street on the east and Cold Spring Road on the south.

“Many of the people that live in that section are surprised they don’t attend Edgerton because of their proximity to the school,” Director of Special Education and Human Resources Thomas Vogel said at a .

According to Vogel, Hales Corners Elementary has primarily been a four-track school, meaning it has four sections of each class. This year, because of demand, a fifth section of K5 was added at Hales Corners.

The school, however, does not have the capabilities of becoming a five-track school. Meanwhile, Edgerton has been a two-track school and it has classroom space to grow and accommodate more students.

“We’re trying to equalize staff size and utilize space,” Vogel said.

The boundary change, if approved, would be phased in beginning with the 2012-13 school year for grades K4, K5 and first. Based on preliminary numbers, approximately 18 students currently in K4 and K5 would be eligible for the transfer.

Hales Corners principal Lori Komas said she has reached out to all of the potentially impacted families. She said transferred students would be clustered together to maintain familiarity and that Edgerton would form a “new kids club” to further help acclimate the newcomers.

Some stipulations apply. If families have siblings in upper grades, they will be given a choice to have their students remain at Hales Corners, have the children attend separate elementary schools, or move all children to Edgerton. The administration believes there are four or five families that will have to make that decision.

“Boundary changes are always an issue,” School Board member Bill Osterndorf said Monday. “It’s one of those things people are always sensitive too. We want to , why are we doing it and how will it affect you.

“Hales Corners is maxed out. We need to do something to change the dynamics and effectively use the space at our schools. … If the boundary change will put us in a better spot for the next four or five years, as long as it’s a long-term solution, it makes some sense.”

The board is expected to vote on the change March 26.