Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools director of operational services Dan Powers said Monday an advisory committee’s preferred school boundary reorganization plan was more future-proof, though the cost difference between the top two potential solutions was minimal.

The plan, introduced as Scenario E at an Oct. 14 Finance and Operations Advisory Committee meeting, would see no changes to start times, though 679 students would switch schools. At a Monday study session of the five potential solutions, Powers said Scenario E offered more flexibility in areas where growth is likely to happen, limiting the potential need for change.

Powers said the district met with Prior Lake and Savage officials, who said they expected between 70 and 150 new home builds (in what timeframe?). For each new home, the district can expect to add roughly one new student, though the age of children in the home means it could take up to seven years for them to enroll.

“As we look at those things, Scenario E has more staying power and more flexibility,” Powers said.

Along with Scenario E, Scenario C was put forward as a potential solution, though one with changes to start times and the need for more than double the students in Scenario E to switch schools.

In an email sent to parents Tuesday, the district highlighted key points about both their preferred plans:

Option C Highlights

• A total of approximately 1,570 students would be affected by school and start time changes. Shorter average bus ride times overall, though increased for Redtail Ridge students
• Less balanced enrollment with all schools below 80% capacity
• Less “future proof” for any potential growth
• Requires start time adjustments at two schools for approximately 990 students
• About 580 students would change schools, including WestWood (not including La ola del lago students, who will relocate to WestWood for the 2026–27 school year)

Option E Highlights

• Most balanced enrollment with all schools below 70% capacity, except Five Hawks Elementary at 80.2%
• Shorter average bus ride times
• Most “future proof,” allowing for any potential growth in all attendance areas
• Does not require any start time changes
• About 679 students would change schools, including WestWood (not including La ola del lago students, who will relocate to WestWood for the 2026–27 school year)

Powers unveiled the plans crafted by the advisory committee at the Oct. 14 meeting. The need to reorganize the district came about due to the board’s decision to close WestWood Elementary as a neighborhood school earlier in 2025.

All scenarios had contiguous boundaries, were within school capacity capabilities and included four sections of each grade at each building, Powers said at the Oct. 13 meeting. Effects of the other four changes included the following:

Scenario A moves most of the WestWood students into Five Hawks. While it affected the smallest number of students (437), the challenge presented with this option was the large increase in transportation costs. A minimum of four additional buses would need to be purchased at a cost of at least $1 million each.

Scenario B would distribute the students from WestWood to other elementary schools throughout the district. This option was not considered “future proof,” Powers said, meaning that the boundaries would most likely have to be changed in the future as the district’s student population expands. He said the district has typically made boundary changes approximately every five years, but it was his desire to make whatever option is chosen last longer. A total of 1,618 students’ school start times at two schools would change, Powers added.

Scenario D has similar challenges to Scenario B. It is not considered to be future-proof from enrollment swings and would require a change in the start times for two locations. Around 1,600 students would either need to change schools or start time.

In both scenarios E and C, some students from Jeffers Pond Elementary would be redistricted to Five Hawk Elementary. Responding to board director Charles Johnson’s inquiry on why that was the case, Powers said the bussing company found it more efficient to go to Five Hawks than Jeffers Pond.

District superintendent Dr. Michael Thomas said it also allowed for nature-based programming to remain at Jeffers Pond. The program for pre-school children is popular and not only brings in enrollment for pre-K children, but pipelines them to permanent K-12 enrollment, Thomas said.

Powers said Hamilton Ridge Elementary may need to add a room to accommodate additional special education students. He added that storage would also need to be figured out for some schools. 

Robert Cothern, executive director of administrative services, said the district did not have exact numbers on staff changes, they are talking with school principals as well as union officials. Cothern said he has not discussed potentially moving primary school teachers to the secondary level, but there could be options for elementary staff with K-6 licensure to fill sixth grade openings at the middle schools.

“We’re open to anything that’s going to retain as many staff as we possibly can to stay here at Prior Lake Savage schools,” Cothern said.

The school board will have a final review of Scenarios C and E during the Nov. 10 regular board meeting. After the review, the board will vote on which boundary option will take effect for the 2026-27 school year.