The Duneland School Corp. School Board approved a redistricting plan Monday to balance enrollment between Liberty and Westchester Intermediate Schools beginning in the 2023-24 school year.

The plan shifts students in the southern section of Yost Elementary School’s enrollment area to Liberty for intermediate grades (5 and 6) and middle school grades (7 and 8). That school year is when Chesterton Middle School will be closed.

Without redistricting, enrollment would be heavily lopsided, with 934 at Westchester and 688 at Liberty, Assistant Superintendent Robert McDermott said.

The plan will affect 103 students and 90 families. 

A 32-member committee with parents and school officials examined a series of scenarios before choosing this option.

In weighing the redistricting scenarios, the committee wanted to minimize changes from current attendance boundaries, factor in travel time, allow for anticipated enrollment growth and factor in demographic profiles, including socioeconomic status, race, special education needs and others.

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The redistricting shifts students in the Oak Tree Village, Corlins Landing, Trail Creek, Porter Cove, Golfview Estates and Dogwood Estates subdivisions to Liberty.

A secondary goal of the committee was to increase enrollment at Jackson Elementary School, which feeds Liberty.

Students in the Liberty Farm, Pines Estates, Troon and Long Lake (West) subdivisions will be moved from Liberty Elementary School to Jackson. That would affect 56 students and 45 families in the first year. 

Josh Huwig, principal at Yost Elementary School, said he felt the option would fit the best. Sam Marshall, principal at Jackson Elementary School, noted that the problem was that you cannot divide five elementary schools into two middle schools equally. 

Elizabeth Brown, a parent volunteer, said the committee was very collaborative in the process. One committee member said she was initially on the fence, as her family would be affected, but concluded the adopted plan is the best option. 

During public comment, Susan Rodeck expressed her concerns about the redistricting plan. She said she felt the only way for parents to get involved was to be on the committee and beyond that, it was already a forgone conclusion. She said she expected better from the school board. 

In addition to the approval of the redistricting plan, several other subjects were addressed at Monday’s meeting.

The district will no longer provide COVID-19 updates at school board meetings, provided nothing significant changes. There were 11 active cases in the past two weeks. 

School Board member Brandon Kroft discussed legislation going through the Indiana General Assembly. He said that while a lot of bills at the beginning of the session had a lot to do with education, there will be minimal changes now. He said House Bill 1130 is the only one likely to impact the board, as the bill requires public comment.

However, Kroft said the School Board already allows for public comment, so there will be a limited impact.

The board also approved the purchase of nine buses, with two of them being for students with special needs or disabilities. 

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PAD Foundation hosts its annual Prince and Princess ball

Violet Yearsich, 4, of Las Vegas, Nevada, eyes dessert items at the PAD Foundation Prince and Princess Ball.

PAD Foundation hosts its annual Prince and Princess ball

Four-year-old Aubree Koza, of Highland, compares her dress with that of “Belle,” Lauren Mackowicz, at the RAD Foundation Prince and Princess Ball.

PAD Foundation hosts its annual Prince and Princess ball

Magician Nate “Nate the Great” Lacny of Hobart gets help from 4-year-old Lucas Barkes, of Valparaiso, at the PAD Foundation Prince and Princess Ball.

Stocking up on paczki

Workers prepare paczki at Calumet Bakery in Lansing on Monday, one day ahead of Fat Tuesday. The bakery offers a variety of paczki, ranging from strawberry, raspberry and lemon to custard and chocolate mousse.

Stocking up on paczki

A variety of paczki are available at Calumet Bakery in Lansing.

Stocking up on paczki

Sisters Loretta and Charlotte Wroblewski traveled from New Lenox, Illinois, to purchase paczki Monday at Calumet Bakery in Lansing.

Stocking up on paczki

Jose Soto slices paczki Monday at Calumet Bakery in Lansing.

Lighthouse plays Griffith to open sectional play

Lighthouse coach Timothy Mays talks to his team between quarters.

Lighthouse plays Griffith to open sectional play

Lighthouse’s Devarius Stewart is fouled by Griffith’s Allen Resendez-Hernandez.

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Lake Central’s Myles Yekich take a shot against Morton in the fourth quarter during the Class 4A sectional at Lake Central on Tuesday evening.

030322-spt-bkh-por_14

Merrillville coach Bo Patton talks with O’Shawn Kelly, AJ Dixon and Darrin Weaver Jr. as Lavonta Ash shoots free throws against Valparaiso on Wednesday.

030322-spt-bkh-por_3

Merrillville’s Erickson Gibson pulls down the rebound away from Valparaiso’s Blaine Dalton and Connor McCall in the third quarter on Wednesday evening.

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Valparaiso’s Mason Jones and Michael Flynn console each other after the Vikings lost to Merrillville on Wednesday evening.

Ash Wednesday 2022

Deacon David Kapala makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of Rebecca Parker, 12, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Munster on Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday 2022

The Rev. Michael Yadron makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of Sequoia Coats, 13, an eighth-grader at St. Thomas More School in Munster, on Ash Wednesday.

030522-spt-bkh-por2_17

Merrillville head coach Bo Patton looks to Deeon Franklin after getting called for his third foul in the first half agent Chesterton Friday night during the 4A Sectional semifinals at Portage High School.

030522-spt-bkh-por2_11

Merrillville’s AJ Dixon goes past Chesterton’s Travis Grayson and Carson Parrish to the basket in the first quarter Friday night during the 4A Sectional semifinals at Portage High School.

4A boys basketball sectional semifinal: Hammond Central vs. Munster

Munster coach Mike Hackett scolds the Mustangs after a turnover on Friday during a Class 4A sectional semifinal in St. John.

4A boys basketball sectional semifinal: Hammond Central vs. Munster

Munster’s Jermaine Coney claps as Hammond Central’s Jordan Woods protests a Wolves turnover on Friday during a Class 4A sectional semifinal in St. John.

Calumet/Riv er Forest, Boys Sectional Basketball

River Forest’s Travis Randolph crashes into Calumet’s Jalen Bullock during Hanover Central sectional competition.

030522-spt-bkh-por1_18

Crown Point’s Drew Adzia tries to get around Portage’s Sam Wellman in the fourth quarter Friday night during the 4A Sectional semifinals at Portage High School.

030522-spt-bkh-por1_1

Portage’s Michael Wellman celebrates as the game ends with a 52-51 win over Crown Point on Friday night during the 4A Sectional semifinals at Portage High School.

Class 2A Sectional – Bishop Noll vs. Andrean

Bishop Noll cheerleaders root for their team.

Class 2A Sectional – Bishop Noll vs. Andrean

Andrean’s Derrick Mitchell is comforted by teammate Alex Austin

4A boys basketball sectional final: Chesterton vs. Portage

Chesterton players celebrate together on Saturday following their 59-31 victory over Portage in a Class 4A sectional final in Portage.

Class A Kouts Sectional championship

Larry Upshaw talks to his 21st Century team during a timeout against Marquette in a Class A sectional title at Kouts.

Class A Kouts Sectional championship

The 21st Century Cougars celebrate their Class A Kouts Sectional win.

Volunteer fair connects public with nonprofits

Jill Schlueter-Kim, left, of Girls on the Run, talks to Samantha Bartucci, of Merrillville, Saturday at volunteer fair. Erica Gomez assists at center.

Volunteer fair connects public with nonprofits

Mary Anne Neiner, founder and president of Planting Possibilities, meets with Bob Zemaitis, of Crown Point, Saturday at the 13th annual Crown Point Community Foundation Volunteer Fair at Crown Point High School. 

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Robin Sizemore stands in a hallway of Banneker Elementary in Gary. Sizemore is social emotional learning/mental health coordinator for Gary Public Schools.

PAD Foundation hosts its annual Prince and Princess ball

Violet Yearsich, 4, of Las Vegas, Nevada, eyes dessert items at the PAD Foundation Prince and Princess Ball.

PAD Foundation hosts its annual Prince and Princess ball

Four-year-old Aubree Koza, of Highland, compares her dress with that of “Belle,” Lauren Mackowicz, at the RAD Foundation Prince and Princess Ball.

PAD Foundation hosts its annual Prince and Princess ball

Magician Nate “Nate the Great” Lacny of Hobart gets help from 4-year-old Lucas Barkes, of Valparaiso, at the PAD Foundation Prince and Princess Ball.

Stocking up on paczki

Workers prepare paczki at Calumet Bakery in Lansing on Monday, one day ahead of Fat Tuesday. The bakery offers a variety of paczki, ranging from strawberry, raspberry and lemon to custard and chocolate mousse.

Stocking up on paczki

A variety of paczki are available at Calumet Bakery in Lansing.

Stocking up on paczki

Sisters Loretta and Charlotte Wroblewski traveled from New Lenox, Illinois, to purchase paczki Monday at Calumet Bakery in Lansing.

Stocking up on paczki

Jose Soto slices paczki Monday at Calumet Bakery in Lansing.

Lighthouse plays Griffith to open sectional play

Lighthouse coach Timothy Mays talks to his team between quarters.

Lighthouse plays Griffith to open sectional play

Lighthouse’s Devarius Stewart is fouled by Griffith’s Allen Resendez-Hernandez.

030222-spt-bkh-lc_16

Lake Central’s Myles Yekich take a shot against Morton in the fourth quarter during the Class 4A sectional at Lake Central on Tuesday evening.

030322-spt-bkh-por_14

Merrillville coach Bo Patton talks with O’Shawn Kelly, AJ Dixon and Darrin Weaver Jr. as Lavonta Ash shoots free throws against Valparaiso on Wednesday.

030322-spt-bkh-por_3

Merrillville’s Erickson Gibson pulls down the rebound away from Valparaiso’s Blaine Dalton and Connor McCall in the third quarter on Wednesday evening.

030322-spt-bkh-por_4

Valparaiso’s Mason Jones and Michael Flynn console each other after the Vikings lost to Merrillville on Wednesday evening.

Ash Wednesday 2022

Deacon David Kapala makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of Rebecca Parker, 12, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Munster on Ash Wednesday.

Ash Wednesday 2022

The Rev. Michael Yadron makes the sign of the cross on the forehead of Sequoia Coats, 13, an eighth-grader at St. Thomas More School in Munster, on Ash Wednesday.

030522-spt-bkh-por2_17

Merrillville head coach Bo Patton looks to Deeon Franklin after getting called for his third foul in the first half agent Chesterton Friday night during the 4A Sectional semifinals at Portage High School.

030522-spt-bkh-por2_11

Merrillville’s AJ Dixon goes past Chesterton’s Travis Grayson and Carson Parrish to the basket in the first quarter Friday night during the 4A Sectional semifinals at Portage High School.

4A boys basketball sectional semifinal: Hammond Central vs. Munster

Munster coach Mike Hackett scolds the Mustangs after a turnover on Friday during a Class 4A sectional semifinal in St. John.

4A boys basketball sectional semifinal: Hammond Central vs. Munster

Munster’s Jermaine Coney claps as Hammond Central’s Jordan Woods protests a Wolves turnover on Friday during a Class 4A sectional semifinal in St. John.

Calumet/Riv er Forest, Boys Sectional Basketball

River Forest’s Travis Randolph crashes into Calumet’s Jalen Bullock during Hanover Central sectional competition.

030522-spt-bkh-por1_18

Crown Point’s Drew Adzia tries to get around Portage’s Sam Wellman in the fourth quarter Friday night during the 4A Sectional semifinals at Portage High School.

030522-spt-bkh-por1_1

Portage’s Michael Wellman celebrates as the game ends with a 52-51 win over Crown Point on Friday night during the 4A Sectional semifinals at Portage High School.

Class 2A Sectional – Bishop Noll vs. Andrean

Bishop Noll cheerleaders root for their team.

Class 2A Sectional – Bishop Noll vs. Andrean

Andrean’s Derrick Mitchell is comforted by teammate Alex Austin

4A boys basketball sectional final: Chesterton vs. Portage

Chesterton players celebrate together on Saturday following their 59-31 victory over Portage in a Class 4A sectional final in Portage.

Class A Kouts Sectional championship

Larry Upshaw talks to his 21st Century team during a timeout against Marquette in a Class A sectional title at Kouts.

Class A Kouts Sectional championship

The 21st Century Cougars celebrate their Class A Kouts Sectional win.

Volunteer fair connects public with nonprofits

Jill Schlueter-Kim, left, of Girls on the Run, talks to Samantha Bartucci, of Merrillville, Saturday at volunteer fair. Erica Gomez assists at center.

Volunteer fair connects public with nonprofits

Mary Anne Neiner, founder and president of Planting Possibilities, meets with Bob Zemaitis, of Crown Point, Saturday at the 13th annual Crown Point Community Foundation Volunteer Fair at Crown Point High School. 

030622-nws-socialwork 1.jpg

Robin Sizemore stands in a hallway of Banneker Elementary in Gary. Sizemore is social emotional learning/mental health coordinator for Gary Public Schools.

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