Late in the process, choice leaves a transplanted family with few options
By DONNA WINCHESTER
Published August 3, 2003
[Times photo: Jamie Francis]
Bill and Carolyn Schaefer moved with their children Kristin and Dennison from Jacksonville to Pinellas County in June.
PALM HARBOR - Long before they moved to Pinellas County in June, Carolyn and Bill Schaefer thought they had their bases covered in choosing a school.
They had toured schools last fall to make sure Kristin, 11, and Dennison, 12, could move smoothly from the public school system in Jacksonville. Carwise Middle School was their favorite, so they planned to settle in the Palm Harbor area.
School personnel told them the district was beginning a new method of assigning students to schools, and they wouldn't be able to choose one for their children until they had established a home here. But they were told there would be plenty of options under the new choice plan.
Much to their chagrin, the Schaefers learned they had very few options when they visited the Clearwater Family Education and Information Center after moving two months ago. "They told us everyone had already selected the schools they wanted," Carolyn Schaefer said. "They told us we would get whatever was left."
They learned there was a spot at Dunedin Highland Middle School for Kristin, and one at Palm Harbor Middle School for Dennison. But they wanted the children at the same school.
"We really wanted Carwise, but they said there was absolutely no hope they would get to go there because there is a lengthy waiting list," Schaefer said. "They said our only chance to get them together was Tarpon Springs Middle School."
But the district might not be able to give the Schaefers an answer about Tarpon Springs Middle, which is 13 miles from their home, until three weeks into the school year. Schaefer says that's unacceptable.
"The whole reason we moved here was because of the schools," she said. "It's just very disappointing."
