Signs like these can be found in the Calarosa East neighborhood. It is to persuade people to join a petition regarding a proposed school change.
“We’re just hoping that we make a strong enough case that the school board will listen to us,” said parent Eric Benson.
Right now, Benson’s son is walking to Arbor View Elementary School. However, by next school year, this may not be the case.
Earlier last month, the Elkhorn Public School Board unveiled its proposed elementary school attendance boundaries.
If authorized, pupils in the Calarosa East neighborhood, with the exception of present fourth-graders, would attend the new “Elementary School 14,” located across the much busier 204th St.
“To me, it’s just a recipe for more accidents,” explained Benson.
Benson said he has reached out to local and state politicians to spread the message.
“We want to make sure every level, from local to state, is at our disposal and provide us perspective on where we should be headed with this,” he stated.”
Neighborhood reporter John Brown checked up EPS’s boundary laws. On its website, it provides the following information: “Open Enrollment application requests for intra-district transfer to a school outside of the student’s assigned attendance area should be submitted to the board on or before March 15th prior to the semester in which intra-district transfer is sought…”
KMTV also contacted the Elkhorn Public School Board. It stated in a statement that it has met with district administrators to investigate the issues made by Calarosa East neighbors and that “we will continue that review process in advance of our January board meeting.”
For the time being, Benson is doing his best to keep his children at their current school.
“What I’m really hoping is that if we create enough awareness on this, we have enough eyeballs on this, then our kids won’t be a rounding error,” he told me.
Benson plans to attend the school board meeting on January 13th, where boundary adjustments will be finalized.