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Schools

Student relocations worry board

Communities with schools affected by extreme overcrowding will have their say on the issue in public meetings.

By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK
Published December 8, 2005

TAMPA - Hillsborough School Board members raised some initial concerns Wednesday about proposals to move students out of critically crowded schools next year.

At Bryant Elementary, in the northwest, board member Susan Valdes worried that relocating fifth-graders to portables on the Citrus Park Elementary campus - one of the possible solutions - would be unfair to the students. At Durant High, in the east, board member Jennifer Faliero wanted to prevent repeatedly moving the same group of families from campus to campus as new schools open.

She spoke specifically about families in the Buckhorn Elementary attendance zone, who were transferred from Bloomingdale High to Durant about three years ago and now are positioned to head back to Bloomingdale.

Board member Doretha Edgecomb was troubled about the distance some inner-city children would have to travel if middle school youngsters attending James K-8 are transferred to McLane and Mann middle schools to the east.

Steve Ayers, the district's attendance zone guru, assured the board that nothing is set in stone. Moving any two grade levels out of Bryant could relieve its crowding until a new school can open, he said, and double sessions remain a possibility instead of rezoning at Durant.

"I'd like to believe we're flexible enough," Ayers told the board.

But time is of the essence, said Lewis Brinson, assistant superintendent for administration. To have programs in place by August, the board needs to reach a conclusion on what to do soon.

Nothing will occur without input from the potentially affected communities, board chairwoman Carolyn Bricklemyer said.

Several community meetings are scheduled for January. Bryant families are scheduled to get their say on Jan. 10, Durant on Jan. 11 and James on Jan. 12. Proposed boundary changes for Pride Elementary are to go to the community Jan. 18, for Clair-Mel Elementary Jan. 19, for Twin Lakes Elementary Jan. 23 and for Mintz Elementary Jan. 25.

One of the keys, Brinson said, is convincing parents that it is okay to send their children to different schools. It's not always easy, as evidenced by dozens of angry e-mails to board members over a proposed boundary for a new middle school in New Tampa.

Much boils down to improved communication by the school district, board member Candy Olson said. Parents need to understand that when they move into high-growth areas, their children might get reassigned as new schools rise, and it's the district's responsibility to tell them, Olson said.

Jeffrey S. Solochek can be reached at 813 269-5304 or solochek@sptimes.com

[Last modified December 8, 2005, 00:49:13]