HUNTERTOWN — Northwest Allen County Schools will soon look at rebalancing its school boundaries. NACS revealed four rebalancing options at its meeting board Dec. 8, requesting the public’ s input through the month of January through a survey.

Guidelines for rebalancing per the agenda include equitable enrollment, planning for future growth and capacity, feeder schools alignment, safe and efficient transportation routes and family survey results.

The survey has opened and will close Jan. 5. Only NACS families will be asked for input.

According to NACS Superintendent Wayne Barker, Carroll and Maple Creek middle schools are both “at capacity and bursting at the seams.”

Willow Creek will open in the fall 2026, which will allow for more space for students.

Current boundaries make it so that Arcola, Aspen Meadow, Huntertown, Eel River and Hickory Center all feed into Carroll Middle School, while Cedar Canyon, Oak View, Perry Hill, Eel River and Aspen Meadow all feed into Maple Creek Middle School.

With two new large neighborhoods coming, The Fens with 764 lots and Broad Acres with 715 lots, rebalancing would move students living in the Fens from Aspen Meadow to Eel River. A handful of affected 6th- and 7th-grade students from the Lakes and Coves of Brooks Crossing would move from Maple Creek Middle School to Carroll Middle School.

Of the options presented, Option 1 had the most efficient transportation; Option 2 would allow all feeders; Option 3 would split Aspen Meadow; and Option 4 would split Cedar Canyon.

Board member Darren Vogt voiced his concerns about being flexible with the timing of the survey, given the holiday season and families’ holiday plans. Vogt also asked if it would be possible to further enumerate in dollars the different in transportation costs for each option.

Barker mentioned the importance of having equal percentages of low-income and special needs students and ensuring equal socio-economic status.

Barker also mentioned the importance of timing with the survey so that schedules can then be created for all the students.

The board will present its boundary recommendations at the next school board meeting Jan. 12 with staffing recommendations to follow Jan. 26.

Interactive maps are available online at the NACS website. People can enter their address to see how each option might affect them.

In other news, the board:

• Recognized the Carroll High School Varsity Competition Cheerleaders, the 2025 Varsity A Division State Champions, who won a fifth consecutive Varsity State Championship title

• Renewed the annual safety resource officer agreement for next year, with no change made

• Accepted a $1,135.46 donation from the Indiana Bar Foundation to be used for transportation to the state competition, and a $1,000 donation from Eckrich to support students and staff at Oakview

• Board member Kristi Schlatter thanked all custodial staff for their efforts cleaning sidewalks and public spaces, despite a rough start to winter.