Iowa City School District officials and a large group of parents discussed boundary change concerns at the first of three public forums about redistricting on Monday night.

Several parents said they were concerned about ensuring public involvement in changing any boundaries. Some said they would like district officials to add more public forums to the process.

Rob Schwarz, a district consultant with RSP & Associates, said he will work with district administrators to increase public involvement by adding more venues for public input.

“You’d have to have your head buried in the sand to not know what’s going on,” he said.

Two public forums are scheduled for January.

Parents also raised concerns regarding demographic distribution in the district and transportation issues.

Royceann Porter, a district parent, said officials should consider increasing the availability of city bus passes for students.

She said her children should not be expected to walk roughly 2.9 miles to City High. The district offers bus passes only to high-school students living three miles or farther from the school.

April Armstrong, a district parent and recent candidate in the School Board elections, said many parents want the whole community to have an opportunity to speak about the issue.

Parents want public forums in accessible locations as well as alternate feedback methods for those without access to the Internet, she said.

— by Holly Hines