These nine appeals were consolidated because they all involved timely-filed open enrollment applications for kindergarten students for the 2001-2002 school year. Appellants' applications were denied on the basis that the departure of their non-minority students would adversely affect the District's desegregation plan. The evidence showed that the applications filed for Kathryn Foster and Jordan Bowen failed to identify siblings who had been previously released. Based upon the sibling preference policy of the District, their applications will be moved to the top of the waiting list.

The evidence showed that the District's denials of the applications were reasonable and appropriate under the District's desegregation plan and policies.

It is recommended that the decisions of the Board of Directors of the Des Moines Independent Community School District made on January 23, 2001; February 6, 2001; and February 20, 2001, which denied Appellants' applications for open enrollment for their children for the 2001-2002 school year, be affirmed.