News

Background Information
Manheim Township School District is committed to providing an open and transparent process of how the district is planning for the projected increase in growth within Manheim Township. Working closely with the Manheim Township Board of Commissioners, the district is kept informed of all new housing developments, and continues to plan for strategies to address the possibility of increased enrollment growth. Our priority is to be prepared for the projected increased student enrollment while ensuring that our rigorous, educational programming continues to be successful for all student now and in the future in a fiscally responsible manner. 

Below you will find more information regarding the planning process as we continue to update the community through School Board presentations and superintendent communications.  It is our continued goal to keep our community informed on this process and how it may affect our students, staff, parents, and community members.

Update: January 16, 2020
Dr. Felty gave a presentation on planning for increasing student enrollment and options for addressing enrollment growth at Nitrauer Elementary during the January School Board of Directors meeting.

Please click here to download and view the January 16 presentation.

 

Update: November 21, 2019
Dr. Felty gave a presentation on planning for increasing student enrollment and investigating options for enrollment growth during the November  School Board of Directors meeting.

Please click here to download and view the November 21 presentation.

 

Update: October 10, 2019
Dr. Felty gave a presentation on planning for increasing student enrollment during the October Work Session of the School Board of Directors meeting.

Please click here to download and view the October 10 presentation.

 

Update: September 19, 2019
Dr. Felty gave the following enrollment report during the Superintendent Report at the September School Board of Directors meeting

Student Enrollment: As you know, we are continuing to watch our student enrollment numbers given the new housing developments within our area, as well as the families who are moving into our district in general. During our August 15 Board meeting, I had shared
with you that our student enrollment on opening day for students (August 26) was 5,857. That number showed an increase of 110 students since opening day during the previous year (August 27, 2018).

In review of our enrollment numbers today, several weeks after the start of school, our total number is now at 5,974 – this past week we have grown by another 9 students to bring us to this total. We are continuing to see a gradual increase, as we were expecting. Our K-4 elementary schools that have experienced the greatest increases from last year, and even since the start of school, are Nitrauer, Bucher, and Schaeffer. Our LRIS, MS and HS have also increased in enrollment since last school year.

As our planning continues for addressing the increasing enrollment, especially in the elementary schools, we are closely watching the enrollment numbers at each school and the numbers projected to move into the attendance zones of each of the schools (as per our demographic study from this past Spring). We will be sharing this information with you, along with ideas for addressing the increased enrollment, at several upcoming Board meetings. We will also post this information on our district website so everyone can see the
stages of our planning.

Update: May 16, 2019

At the May 9, 2019 School Board of Directors Work Session, Superintendent Dr. Felty provided a follow-up summary to the demographic study focusing on general data for student enrollment, annual enrollment growth and projections, and options for addressing the enrollment data.

Options that could be considered for addressing enrollment growth include, but are not limited to, renovating current existing schools to add classrooms and grade levels, redistricting, renovating the former Neff 6 building (or Neff II) to design a school for our early learners, and purchasing land and building a new school,.

The district administration will continue to research and work within internal and external stakeholder groups, particularly if they involve renovation to an existing school.  We will continue to update the community with additional information and presentations at future School Board meetings.

Update: April 12, 2019

During the April 11, 2019, School Board of Directors Work Session, Remington & Vernick Engineers (RVE) presented a MTSD demographic study called “Master Planning Services”.   The purpose of this demographic study was to provide the school board and school district with future student enrollment projections by researching and studying historical data, approved housing developments, planned housing developments and future considerations of vacant land.

Throughout this presentation, there are maps that provide where the MTSD elementary boundaries are located, location of MTSD students within the elementary boundaries, the approved and planned developments, and a review of the vacant land with potential for redevelopment for long-term planning.  RVE also provided enrollment projections for 5 & 10 years with grade level impacts and school level impacts.

Click on this link to review the Remington & Vernick Engineers 2019 Demographic Study. 

Update:  January 2019
Open Letter to the Manheim Township Community from Dr. Robin Felty

Dear Manheim Township Families, Friends, and Community Members;

I write to you today in response to inquiries we are receiving from parents and community members about our planning process for the projected increase in growth within Manheim Township. More recently, there have been questions about the impact of the proposed Oregon Village project on our district, and how our schools might be affected by the anticipated additional student enrollment due to all new projected housing developments.

Given our collaborative working relationship with the Manheim Township Board of Commissioners, we have been kept informed of all new housing developments across the Manheim Township community, including the projected timeline for completion. Consequently, we’ve been planning for strategies to address the possibility of increased student enrollment due to both the new housing developments and the typical movement of families into our district. Our administration has also met twice with a co-owner and property manager of the Hurst Family Estate associated with the proposed Oregon Village project, who has updated us on draft site plans for the Oregon Village project, tentative time line, and the possible implications of increased student enrollment in the school district.

Of course, given the unknowns within the housing market, it is difficult to establish the overall impact the many housing developments in the Manheim Township community will have on the school district. Preplanning for projected increased enrollment is a key priority for us and has involved discussions centered on a combination of several options. The goal of such dialogue is to find the most economically feasible approach to addressing the need for more space in our schools, especially at the grades K-4 elementary level. It is paramount in our planning that we are fiscally responsive to our taxpayers in all decision-making, while also being realistic about the needs of the expanding district.

Thus, the Board of School Directors voted approval at the October 18, 2018 School Board Meeting for master planning demographic services by Remington & Vernick Engineers to study the impact that current and future residential development within Manheim Township will have on student enrollment. We anticipate receipt of the preliminary results and a draft report from the district-wide study in the near future. The information provided by the report will offer specific data for planning.

Nonetheless, even without the preliminary data report we know student enrollment is increasing and could possibly continue through the many new housing developments in process or slated to begin within the next year or so. Due to our positive, proactive stance in planning for the future, we have several options for consideration and are currently in the planning process. We are prepared for the next phase of planning for increased student enrollment, with the goal to ensure that our rigorous, educational programming continues successfully for all students now and in the future. Such programming will continue in the most fiscally responsible manner in order to honor our taxpayers and recognize the educational excellence valued by our families.

Update: October 2018

In October 2018, the Manheim Township School District Board of School Directors approved a proposal to hire a district-wide master planning consulting services firm to study the impact that current and future residential development within Manheim Township municipality will have on future student enrollment.

Remington & Vernick Engineers Consulting Services were approved at the October 18, 2018 School Board meeting.  Below you will find information and updates on how the district plans to address future enrollment growth.  It is our continued goal to provide a one-stop place to keep our community informed on this process and how it may affect our taxpayers.