Deputy HISD Superintendent Roger Brown said the zoning committee, which met this summer, considered various goals when choosing its recommendation for attendance boundaries.
"These guiding principles—these are items that we look at when we're establishing attendance zones," he said. "Certainly, you'll see overcrowding, future growth and distance traveled—those are all very important."
The $35 million Lakeland Elementary rebuild at 1134 Rustic Timbers Drive, Humble, will have an expanded capacity of 950 students, up from its original 650. The two-story campus will include a play-based learning concept, open learning spaces and an outdoor track, as Community Impact Newspaper previously reported.
At the recommendation of the district, trustees unanimously approved Option C as attendance boundaries for Lakeland.
Option C alleviates capacity at River Pines Elementary but adds needed capacity at Jack Fields Elementary School, Brown said. With the new boundaries, Fields Elementary will gain an estimated 263 students in the 2021-22 school year, and River Pines Elementary School will lose 201 students, according to the district.
Meanwhile, the as-yet-unnamed Elementary School No. 30 will be located on Aspen Fall Lane in the Fall Creek neighborhood. Much like Lakeland, the $31.2 million school will feature play-based learning design and numerous flexible spaces, as Community Impact Newspaper previously reported.
Trustees unanimously approved Option B as attendance boundaries for the campus.
Brown said Option B alleviates capacity issues at Fall Creek and Ridge Creek elementary schools, both of which are over their capacities. Fall Creek has a capacity of 750 students and a projected 2020-21 enrollment of 1,054 students, while Ridge Creek has a capacity of 950 students and a projected enrollment of 1,100 students.
"We have several temporary facilities at Fall Creek, and we've added some at Ridge Creek this summer, so it's definitely a growing area," Brown said.
To add more students to the new, unnamed campus, Option B also includes a a flex zone. Students living in the zone will be able to choose whether they wish to attend Fall Creek Elementary or Elementary No. 30, according to district officials. School bus transportation within the zone will be provided to Elementary No. 30.
With the flex zone, No. 30 will serve an estimated 798 kindergarten through fifth grade students its first year, according to the district. It will have a capacity of 950 students.
"I think what everyone liked about this [option] is it allowed for growth," he said.
HISD families can visit the district's website or click the following links to find more information on boundaries for Lakeland Elementary and Elementary School No. 30.
Correction: The original version of this article referred the incorrect flex zone for the boundary discussion.
