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School board attaches rule on siblings to zone changes

The board approves the new attendance plan and a rule that would let families' children attend the same high school if it has enough space available.

By EDDY RAMIREZ
Published January 26, 2006

INVERNESS - The School Board closed a bitter chapter in the debate over school rezoning Tuesday night with yet another concession to families in the changed zones: Students hoping to follow in the footsteps of their older siblings may be able to attend the same high school.

The district had originally proposed new attendance boundaries that would have diverted current Lecanto freshmen to the district's two less crowded high schools. But the proposal was withdrawn after dozens of angry parents and students protested the move at two community meetings last year. Students were worried about loosing friends and being treated as outcasts by peers at their rival schools.

Tuesday, a committee of high school principals and district staff presented the board with a revised plan that would allow current Lecanto freshmen to stay if they wish. But starting next school year, new students who live in the revised district would have to go to Citrus High School or Crystal River High School.

Shortly before a public hearing got under way, superintendent Sandra "Sam" Himmel made a new recommendation. All three high schools, she said, would consider enrolling students with current high school siblings.

There is one caveat though: The high school must have enough classroom space.

Himmel's recommendation raised questions from some board members.

Pat Deutschman asked, "How do you determine if there is space when you're saying Lecanto High is already overcrowded?"

Board attorney Richard "Spike" Fitzpatrick said each school would have to develop a clear policy, spelling out what guidelines principals would use to determine if the school has enough space. Without such guidelines, he said, principals could come under fire for giving the children of some parents preference over others.

"I'm a little concerned," Fitzpatrick said. "This can pit a parent against a principal."

In the end, the board unanimously voted to accept the new high school zones as well as Himmel's recommendation.

For the Raynes family, the final vote might stave off a potentially ugly situation.

Under the new zones, Mitch and Donna Raynes would have been forced to send one child to Lecanto High and another to Crystal River High. Both worried about how they would cheer for their sons without hurting the other's feelings during a sports match between the rival schools.

"I'm huge on family tradition and I'm huge on heritage," Donna Raynes said. "And I want all my boys to walk across the stage at Lecanto."

For Lecanto senior Jessica Garrison, the outcome offered her a glimmer of hope that her brother, an eighth-grader at Citrus Springs Middle School, might be able to attend her alma matter.

"For the past three years he's watched me play sports," she said. "He's grown to be a Panther since the fifth grade. He's been green and yellow for the longest time. Forcing him to be blue and gold would be a slap in the face to him."

Students in the changed zones must submit waivers by March 15 to remain at the current schools. Waivers will be available at each school beginning Feb. 17.

[Last modified January 26, 2006, 01:01:17]