1. Soft Borders Policy Discussion
Fair Lawn Board of Education
February 27, 2017

2. What are soft borders? Fair Lawn currently uses “hard borders”
Students are assigned schools based upon where they live and when they moved into Fair Lawn
Proposed soft borders policy would NOT impact any current students
Soft borders would ONLY impact new residents after July 1, 2017

3. How do soft borders work?
Elementary school students would be assigned to an elementary school that has room
Milnes and Radburn are now at capacity
If a new family moves into the traditional Milnes or Radburn area, they may be assigned to a school that is within 2 miles of their new home

4. Why do we need soft borders
Significant enrollment growth
Not possible to build a new school or add a new addition to an existing school in a quick and cost effective way
Soft borders are cost effective
No impact on current students

5. How significant is enrollment growth?
Total of 219 new students enrolled in July, August, September
Class size of 29 in some Milnes and Radburn homerooms
There are 15 elementary classrooms with more than 26 students
Milnes now has over 500 students
Radburn now has 475 students

6. How did the Board respond in September?
Conducted new demographic study
Established position of general education paraprofessional
Reviewed all master schedules
Conducted housing market analysis

7. What were demographic results?
There will be 273 additional students in next five years
This includes Landmark at Radburn 65 students and 33 affordable units (can not fit at Radburn)
Significant increase in births and “move ins”
From May to October 2016, 203 single family homes sold

8. Other Board of Education Research
Residency Verification
Development of “Soft Borders” policy
Investigate conversion of Edison School into traditional elementary school or kindergarten center

9. Other Options
Permit students from Milnes and Radburn to attend other elementary schools on a voluntary basis
Your suggestions?
Questions and answers!