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Lines drawn for middle school boundaries
By SUSAN THURSTON
© St. Petersburg Times, TAMPA PALMS -- After months of poring over maps and student enrollment figures, the committee drafting boundaries for two new schools in New Tampa has come up with a plan for the middle school. Those involved said it wasn't easy. Tedious, torturous and triumphant come to mind. "This is very, very difficult for the people in this community," said Bill Person, director of pupil assignment for Hillsborough County schools. "It's not possible to come up with one plan that meets all of the needs of everyone." The proposed boundaries for Liberty Middle School include students from Tampa Palms, Richmond Place, West Meadows and the east side of U.S. 41 in Lutz. The school also would draw from heavily minority neighborhoods between Fletcher and Fowler avenues that are assigned to Benito Middle. The majority of the 20 committee members said they supported the plan. It would reduce crowding at Benito and Buchanan middle schools and balance the number of white and minority students among the three schools. Each would have about 20 percent black students, not including those from other ethnic groups. "I think the plan works just fine for most of New Tampa," said Terry Wolford, a committee member from Tampa Palms. "I think that it's a pretty fair and even distribution of the kids." Some Lutz parents said the plan favors New Tampa over the other communities. They oppose splitting students from Lutz and Maniscalco elementaries between Liberty and Buchanan. Those east of U.S. 41 would attend Liberty and those to the west would attend Buchanan. "We feel we are getting railroaded," said committee member Harry Felsenthal. "People in Lutz want to stay together." The committee asked Person to look into a backup plan that would leave all of the Lutz elementary children at Buchanan without crowding it. Person said he would review it, but made no promises. The group will meet again at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at Tampa Palms Elementary to go over his findings and to finish the boundaries for Freedom High School. Critical to that plan will be balancing the race ratios between Freedom, Gaither and Wharton. Gaither is expected to lose many of its minorities when Middleton High School opens on N 22nd Street just south of Hillsborough Avenue. Person hopes to finalize the proposals at the next meeting and give them to Superintendent Earl Lennard by mid-November. If Lennard approves them, the district will hold public meetings at Wharton and Gaither in late November to give parents a chance to respond. Depending on their input, the superintendent will send the plans back to the committee for revision or forward them to the school board for approval, possibly in December. Liberty and Freedom open in August 2002 behind USAA in Tampa Palms. Construction is well under way. - Susan Thurston can be reached at 226-3463 or thurston@sptimes.com.
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