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

The evidence showed that the District's denials of the seven applications were reasonable 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, denying Appellants' open enrollments applications for their children for the 2001-2002 school year, be affirmed.