Tim Vandenack, Standard-Examiner

OGDEN — Ogden school officials have unveiled proposed new boundaries for the system’s elementary schools, and the shifts, if approved, will impact the borders of New Bridge, Polk, Wasatch, Shadow Valley and Liberty elementary schools.

Liberty is the new school taking shape to replace T.O. Smith Elementary in southern Ogden.

The proposed changes — in the works for months and focus of planned public meetings next week — stem from shifts in the numbers of elementary-aged kids around Ogden, capacities of the varied schools and enrollment trends. Superintendent Luke Rasmussen offered a rundown of the proposed changes at an Ogden School Board meeting on Thursday.

Also figuring in things is the looming closure of Taylor Canyon Elementary in June at the end of the current school year.

No school boundaries face change north of 12th Street, and boundaries for Ogden and Ben Lomond high schools and the system’s three junior high schools stay the same.

Image supplied, Ogden School District

Notably, the changes in the five impacted schools’ boundaries, if approved when formally taken up by the school board on March 17, may not be the end of things. Rasmussen and board President Jennifer Zundel alluded to the possibility of more changes in school boundaries after gauging the effect of the current slate of proposed shifts, presuming they’re enacted.

“I’m glad that the decision was made to do this and see how the dust settles and then move forward in the future with some other changes. We do have changes coming up in our district so it’s just the way that it is,” Zundel said.

Rasmussen noted that students getting boundary exceptions to attend schools outside their districts will affect enrollment at individual schools, also necessitating further review of school boundaries, perhaps in the fall. Without getting into details, he also hinted at the possibility of new moves to consolidate schools — that is, close older facilities.

Besides Taylor Canyon, the ex-Gramercy Elementary building — temporarily housing T.O. Smith this year while Liberty Elementary takes shape — is to be shuttered in June.

School officials will likely take another dive into the issue after initial 2022-2023 enrollment figures at individual schools come out, he said, “and look at some more change that would happen in regards to some of our older buildings and make some decisions in the fall, if the board wishes.”

Image supplied, Ogden School District

The proposed changes — focus of planned informational meetings on Monday and Tuesday — don’t necessarily reflect major shifts except, perhaps, for those living in areas moved from one school district to another. The meetings each day go from 6-7:30 p.m. and will be held at New Bridge Elementary, 2150 Jefferson Ave., and Wasatch Elementary, 3370 Polk Ave.

Ogden School Board members also plan to discuss the changes at a special session next Thursday that starts at 5:30 p.m.

Here’s a rundown of some of the changes:

• A section of what was in the Taylor Canyon Elementary district west of Harrison Boulevard from 24th Street north to the Ogden River shifts to the New Bridge Elementary district.
• Northern portions of what were in the Wasatch Elementary district shift to Polk Elementary, which is being rebuilt and is to reopen for the 2022-2023 school year.
• An eastern section of the district of what will become Liberty Elementary shifts to Wasatch Elementary.
• Two portions of the northern part of the Shadow Valley Elementary district shift to Wasatch Elementary.

Davis Demographics, a consultant, helped prepare the proposed new boundaries, based in part on a review of where Ogden’s school-aged children currently live. Reps from the firm offered a report on the shifting population trends to school officials last December.

Per the changes, Liberty Elementary, because of the expected availability of space, will become the new home to the district’s Advanced Learning Academy, a magnet program geared to gifted students. It’s now housed at Taylor Canyon Elementary.

Image supplied, Ogden School District

Though a public hearing on the changes is set for March 17, before the school board is expected to take formal action, Zundel advises those so inclined to give their input earlier.

“Probably not the best idea to wait to the 17th to speak up because that’s when we’ll be voting,” she said.

Newsletter