Boone County School Board March 12
The meeting began with standard procedural items, including opening remarks, reports, and public comment. All five board members (Byrd, Maddox, Parks, Wolfe, and Young) were present. Roughly the first half of the early meeting was dominated by public input regarding redistricting, particularly concerns about moving students from Ballyshannon Middle School. Parents and students expressed frustration about communication, academic differences between schools, and the social impact of reassignment.
Following public comment and board discussion, the board moved into action items. The consent agenda covering routine governance items such as prior meeting minutes, financial reports, staffing updates, and a wide range of operational approvals, including construction and facility projects, transportation purchases, field trips, and community use agreements were brought forward and approved. Consistent with most meetings, all five board members passed the motions unanimously.
Motion passed unanimously to approve the Boone County Schools Instructional Time, 2026-2027 School Year, as presented. The recommendation included a 15-minute increase to daily instructional time making the total time 6 hours and 15 minutes.
Motion passed unanimously to approve the Boone County Schools Instructional Time Adjustment for Elementary Schools, 2026-2027 School Year, as presented. All elementary school administrators have requested an adjustment in the daily instructional time. Increasing the instructional day at each of the elementary schools will allow for more instructional time for the students during the school day. However, each of the elementary schools will continue to be governed by the 2026-2027 School Year Calendar adopted by the Board of Education. The elementary schools requesting this extension in their school days for the 2026-2027 school year are:
- Burlington Elementary: add 10 minutes (8:45 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
- Collins Elementary: add 15 minutes (8:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
- Erpenbeck Elementary: add 10 minutes (8:45 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
- Florence Elementary: add 15 minutes (8:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
- Goodridge Elementary: add 10 minutes (8:45 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
- Kelly Elementary: add 10 minutes (8:45 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
- Longbranch Elementary: add 15 minutes (8:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
- Mann Elementary: add 10 minutes (8:45 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
- New Haven Elementary: add 15 minutes (8:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
- North Pointe Elementary: add 5 minutes(8:45 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.)
- Ockerman Elementary: add 15 minutes (8:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
- Steeplechase Elementary: add 15 minutes (8:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
- Stephens Elementary: add 15 minutes (8:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
- Thornwilde Elementary: add 15 minutes (8:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
- Yealey Elementary: add 15 minutes (8:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m.)
A motion was also made for the board to approve the District School Fees, Admission Fees and Meal Prices for 2026-2027, as presented. Vote was 4-1 with Jesse Parks voting in opposition because he “never votes for school fees.”
The most controversial vote of the night occurred on the redistricting decision related to Ballyshannon Middle School. The board considered multiple scenarios developed by the district’s Demographics and Growth Committee. A motion was made to adopt Scenario 1, which reassigns certain neighborhoods to Camp Ernst Middle School and Gray Middle School to relieve overcrowding. The motion passed unanimously (5–0).
Below is a more comprehensive summary of the two scenarios presented:
After reviewing information provided by community members to the Boone County School Board of Education office, along with commentary made at the two Public Forums, the Demographics and Growth Committee recommended for review and final approval geographical boundaries for Ballyshannon Middle School and Camp Ernst Middle School and Gray Middle School. The proposed neighborhoods will move students from Ballyshannon Middle School to Camp Ernst Middle School as well as students from Ballyshannon Middle School to Gray Middle School. Under the committee’s proposed redistricting plan, the neighborhoods are the same for both Scenario 1 and Scenario 2.
Scenario 1
- Proposed Neighborhoods from Ballyshannon Middle School to Camp Ernst Middle School
- Alson Place
- Carters Mill
- Castlewood Estates
- Creekside
- Gunpowder Trails
- Hawks Landing
- Hearthstone
- Longbranch Estates
- Pebble Creek
- Pleasant Hill
- Stillwater
- Area not with a subdivision
- Proposed Neighborhoods from Ballyshannon Middle School to Gray Middle School
- Mary Lou Estates
- Teutonia Estates
- Fairview west of Big Bone
- Castle Bluff Estates
- Area not in a subdivision
Along with school district boundary recommendations, the Demographics and Growth Committee would also recommend grandfathering the current 6th and 7th grade students so they can remain at Ballyshannon Middle School and offer school choice.
- For grandfathering and school choice, families will be responsible to transport their students to and from school.
- For both grandfathering and school choice, parent/guardian will be required to complete the formal request.
- Students permitted to remain at Ballyshannon under grandfathering or school choice must remain in good standing academically, behaviorally and through acceptable attendance.
Scenario 2 (neighborhoods are the same as in Scenario 1)
- Proposed Neighborhoods from Ballyshannon Middle School to Camp Ernst Middle School
- Alson Place
- Carters Mill
- Castlewood Estates
- Creekside
- Gunpowder Trails
- Hawks Landing
- Hearthstone
- Longbranch Estates
- Pebble Creek
- Pleasant Hill
- Stillwater
- Area not with a subdivision
- Proposed Neighborhoods from Ballyshannon Middle School to Gray Middle School
- Mary Lou Estates
- Teutonia Estates
- Fairview – West of Big Bone
- Castle Bluff Estates
- Area not in a subdivision
- No option for grandfathering or school choice would be offered for Scenario 2.
Recommendation: The Demographics and Growth Committee recommended and the school board adopted Scenario 1.