Ozark R‑VI board approves boundary adjustment east of Highway 65, moves ~32 students to North

The Ozark R‑VI Board approved a targeted boundary adjustment east of Highway 65 that will move a small circled area into the North attendance zone to address enrollment imbalance.

Speaker 20, presenting the recommendation, said the change reflects enrollment trends, class‑size equity and anticipated residential growth in the area. “North has experienced a decline by 88 students over the past five years,” the presenter said, and the proposed adjustment would help even class sizes across the district.

District staff said the adjustment affects roughly 32 students — about 10 to 11 families — and that families will be notified after board approval. The presenter described outreach plans: phone calls the following day and invitations for tours or individual meetings with North staff.

Enrollment figures cited during discussion showed West Elementary with 615 students and North with 466, underscoring the imbalance the change intends to correct. Board members emphasized preserving neighborhood integrity and avoiding splitting a forthcoming residential development between two elementaries.

After questions, the board voted unanimously to approve the boundary adjustment. Staff said the district will notify affected families and offer transition support.