Ovid-Elsie board reviews enrollment decline, restructuring concept
At an Aug. 5 work session, Superintendent Mark Horak presented five-year projections showing falling enrollment and outlined a possible change to grade configuration; no action was taken.
The Ovid-Elsie Area Schools Board of Education met in a work session on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, at 4 p.m. in the high school student lounge to review enrollment projection data and discuss potential district restructuring, according to minutes submitted by Crystal Loynes.
Board President Brooke Wooley called the meeting to order at 4 p.m. Present were Wooley, Sue Greer, Becky Williams and Kevin Nash. Josh Miller and David Huff were absent. Mary Thompson arrived at 4:06 p.m. The minutes record no written correspondence and no public communication.
The minutes state that the board was reminded the work session was for informational and discussion purposes only, and that no formal board action would be taken.
Superintendent Mark Horak shared projection numbers prepared by Michigan Alliance that showed a decline in enrollment over the next five years, according to the minutes.
The restructuring concept
Horak then presented information on a potential restructuring of the district. The minutes say the presentation outlined the reasons for exploring restructuring, including continued declining student enrollment and projected future enrollment decreases, the need to promote long-term financial sustainability, and more efficient use of district facilities and available space.
The concept included proposed changes to the elementary grade configuration, middle and high school grade alignment, and the future use of district facilities. The presentation also covered potential benefits and challenges, operational considerations, transportation impacts, staffing considerations, student transitions between grade levels and buildings, and educational programming.
Board questions
Board members shared initial thoughts and questions, according to the minutes. Those questions included how current and projected enrollment and staff numbers compare under the proposal; whether additional staff would be needed; how fifth and sixth graders' sense of inclusion and extracurricular opportunities would be affected, since many athletic programs do not include sixth-grade students; how food service would be handled at E.E. Knight under the proposal; and the fire capacity of each building and whether proposed enrollment would stay within those limits.
Board members also asked for previous staffing numbers and the number of students allowed per building, and listed costs as a topic requiring additional analysis. Under community engagement considerations, the minutes list a community survey and the strategic planning group meeting again to follow up.
What happens next
No vote was taken. The minutes indicate the board asked for additional information on staffing, building capacity and costs, and that the strategic planning group is to meet again as a follow-up. The meeting adjourned at 5:06 p.m.
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