School Boards review boundary realignment plan and hear public testimony
June 14, 2016
The Schools Board for Moorhead Area Public Schools 152 and Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton Public Schools 2164 reviewed the plan for realigning the school district boundaries at their meetings June 13.
Public testimony on the plan was taken at the meeting and an additional opportunity for public testimony will be at the June 27 board meetings. The DGF School Board meets at 6 p.m., and the Moorhead School Board meets at 7 p.m.
The boards will take action on the plan at the June 27 board meetings.
A task force created in October 2015 with representatives from the two districts and boards met to develop a plan that would be favorable to both districts and district residents. After approval by both School Boards the plan required legislative action.
In the 2016 legislative session, the voluntary boundary realignment bill was proposed and adopted. On June 1, 2016 Governor Dayton signed into law the 2016 Supplemental Budget Bill providing authority for ISD 152 and ISD 2164 to realign their shared district boundaries over a period of years.
The final plan submitted for approval by both school boards includes a combination of immediate transfer of parcels and a phased-in transfer process. This combination is needed to minimize tax impact to taxpayers of each school district during a transfer year.
“This is not a short-term plan,” said Dr. Lynne Kovash, superintendent of Moorhead Area Public Schools. “This is a plan that could go many years.”
Students living in the affected areas who are currently open enrolled into the DGF School District will become residents of the district. Moorhead students living in the affected areas currently attending Moorhead Area Public Schools may open enroll and will be provided transportation based on Minnesota Statute 124D.02.
It is anticipated that implementation of the realignment plan would begin July 1, 2016. Tax changes would take place in January 2017.
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