By Chris Barber
Contributing Writer

The Kennett Consolidated School District board is anticipating an attendance redistricting for the elementary schools.

Mark Tracy, the school district’s CFO, announced at the Nov, 10 meeting that the Greenwood, Bancroft and New Garden elementary schools are unevenly populated. Greenwood is serving 570 students – virtually at capacity – while Bancroft’s enrollment is 380 with room to spare.

Meanwhile there are two housing developments under construction in the Greenwood region that would portend even more students going to that elementary school. These developments are The Parks at North Walnut and Longwood Preserve.

Tracy is proposing students who will live in those developments be designated for Bancroft.

He assured the board that students who now attend Greenwood would not be moved – only those enrolled in the two developments designated for the future.

Board member LaToya Myers suggested that the district administration proceed with creating a comprehensive map of attendance areas. Tracy said that is planned.

Tracy also announced that the total Kennett school district enrollment has dropped by 76 students from last year—the most recent enrollment is 3737 students. Tracy said that it appears that families are having fewer children or there are fewer families with children moving to the area.

Facilities Director Dave Brice said both new elementary schools under construction are on schedule. New Garden is predicted to be completed in March, and Greenwood will be finished in June. Both will be open to students in late August—opening school day for the 2026-2027 school year.

Board President Dave Kronenberg said there have been rumors and talk based on the then-unfinished state budget and then-federal government shutdown that the finances of the school district were in danger.

“The resources of the district are sufficient to cover our future needs. …We are good to go,” he said.

Superintendent Kimberly Rizzo Saunders announced that 12 members of the Kennett High School Chorus have been selected for and will perform with the American Choral Directors Associates Eastern Regional Honors Chorus in February.

The board bade farewell to three members whose terms expire in 2025. They are Mark Bowden, Ethan Cramer and Jeffrey McVey.

“I think we have done a really good thing keeping politics at the door,” McVey said following his recognition.

The new members coming on are Jamie Blevins Raign from Kennett Township, Ann Parry from Kennett Square and Brenden Keane from New Garden.  Incumbent Vicki Gehrt from Kennett Township was reelected to the board.