How Mitchell Elementary School in DeKalb plans to welcome new students from different buildings

DeKALB – As the 2025-26 school year fast approaches, officials in DeKalb School District 428 are grappling with how to redraw the attendance boundary maps to best incorporate Dr. Leroy A. Mitchell Elementary School.

Mitchell Elementary School Principal Maurice McDavid said the district is looking to minimize the extent that redrawing the maps might impact students and their families.

“In order to bring a new school on line, this is not a situation where just one or two buildings might be impacted,” McDavid said. “There [is] some shifting that needs to happen certainly all around the community, across our elementary buildings.”

In December, the district held some meetings to allow members of the public to get involved in the process as school officials weighed potential redistricting plans. The new elementary school is expected to open in time for the new year to begin this fall.

District officials expect to host two more community conversations on the final attendance boundary maps in January. The public is welcome to attend. The next one is 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at DeKalb High School, 501 W. Dresser Road. A second will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at St. Paul Episcopal Church, 900 Normal Road.

New attendance boundary maps will require school board approval.

McDavid stressed that information shared at the January meetings could differ from what had been previously shared in December.

He said he couldn’t say how many students would be impacted by the potential redistricting plans that had been presented in December.

“The dual language program, which is something the district has been very excited about and we’ve seen some success with, those programs will stay at the buildings at which they’re currently at,” he said. “The dual language boundaries won’t be changing. We think that’ll hold some students right in place if they’re already participating in the dual language building. Other than that, I just know we’re endeavoring to keep it to a minimum, but it certainly impacts a number of the families across the district.”

McDavid said he’s excited to lead the new elementary school as its principal. McDavid, a DeKalb native, previously worked as Dean of Students at DeKalb High School. Most recently he worked as building principal for an elementary school in the suburbs.

McDavid said he plans to meet personally with students, including rising fourth and fifth graders currently attending other schools, once new boundary maps are official.

“[T]o be able to be with them to welcome them, introduce myself as the principal, but really take an opportunity to hear from them about what are some of the things that they want to see in their new school building, really amplifying student voice,” he said.

McDavid said keeping in contact with families is one of his priorities as a building leader. He said he wants to connect with families on the school’s mission.

“One of the things that I’m looking to do is start what I’m calling a ‘Mitchell Family Council’ and that is different than a PTA or a PTO, which really kind of a fundraising branch to help support different purchases and opportunities inside of the school,” he said. “The Mitchell Family Council would really be more like a family leadership team that would help to set our goals for the year, part of building connections to the community, to create a welcoming and academically thriving environment for the school.”

McDavid said he’s heard some families share hopeful sentiments about the district’s plans.

“I know that people may feel frustrated by it, but again, it’s something we’re doing as a whole community and something we’re doing to really help the community,” McDavid said. “I’ve heard a lot of positivity about it. I think we recognize that there was a need for this new building.”