The Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of Trustees on Nov. 17 adopted an updated enrollment policy that defines the system’s priority area and clarifies how applications are processed.

Superintendent Conrad told trustees the policy makes explicit that the 'Greater Lake Wales area' defines in-zone students (who receive statutory enrollment preferences) and that out-of-zone applicants are considered only after in-zone, on-time applicants. The board also removed confusing phased language from an older draft and aligned charter contract definitions with the policy.

Why it matters: The change makes application order and eligibility clearer for families and staff and reduces discretionary interpretation across schools. Conrad said the policy lists the six preferences granted by state statute and confirms that an employee child on the Lake Wales Charter payroll qualifies for priority under the system definition.

Trustees asked for detail about how the attendance area will be mapped. Conrad said the system will use both the historical 2004 attendance-area map (the original 'who would have attended' boundary for conversion schools) and ZIP codes validated by the local postmaster and the City of Lake Wales planning and zoning office; the ZIP codes will be listed on the enrollment application.

Transportation details were removed from the enrollment draft and will be handled in a separate transportation policy. Trustees pressed for that transportation policy to address 'reasonable distance' and safety, and for systemwide guidance on walkers, dismissal and pickup procedures rather than school-by-school variance. Conrad projected the transportation policy would be ready for the board in January.

The board approved the enrollment policy by roll-call vote during the business meeting. The policy change takes effect as the board and central office build the operational procedures, including application forms that will show ZIP codes considered 'in zone.'

Next steps: Staff will draft the transportation policy (including reasonable-distance and safety criteria) and return with a proposal in January; charter contracts will be updated where needed to match the new definitions.