• November 21, 2023

     

    Dear UCS community,

     

    For the last several months, the district leadership and the Enrollment Distribution Advisory Committee (EDAC) comprised of parents from each school have evaluated the shared building use by Heritage Junior High School and the Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies (GLK-UAIS). The groups reviewed and discussed key factors that impact our students and families.

     

    The consensus of this process was to propose that the Heritage site be solely occupied by the Gene L. Klida Utica Academy for International Studies after this school year. In addition, current Heritage Junior High students would gain opportunities by moving to other schools that provide a broader range of programs and extra-curricular activities.

     

    Last night our Board of Education approved adjusting the junior high school attendance areas to reassign Heritage Junior High students to neighboring schools, beginning in the 2024-25 school year. The revised attendance areas will follow the major geographical boundaries of Van Dyke and the Clinton River to embrace our neighborhood schools. This also addresses the issue of some families having significantly larger distances that their child must travel to reach their school.

     

    These changes will strengthen our district in the long term. Families impacted by this change will be provided additional information in the coming weeks, with receiving school principals reaching out to new families and coordinating activities to welcome students to their communities.

     

    We are committed to creating a seamless transition. Working together, we can help our students continue to succeed. When we return next week, our school communities will begin communicating next steps as well as the options available to each family. Please visit our website for additional information about the adjustment and view the approved attendance areas.

     

    Utica Community Schools remains committed to empowering students to positively transform their future and the world. We are grateful for your continued partnership in this season of Thanksgiving as we work together to inspire remarkable student achievement.

     

     

    Sincerely,

     

    Robert S. Monroe
    Superintendent of Schools