School board approves redistricting plan to move over 700 students in the next two years.
By: Melissa Hayes
The school board approved an elementary school redistricting plan Monday that calls for moving more than 700 students over the next two school years.
In addition, the board gave Superintendent Gary McCartney the authority to change the plan if needed after he meets with some parents of affected students.
"I am asking that if you move forward on the elementary school realignment, should I find out there is information or some change or amendment we need to make, you will let me do that," Dr. McCartney asked the board Monday.
Dr. McCartney said that he has about 12 e-mails and phone calls from parents that he wants to personally respond to. He said those responses would be made this week and he would investigate concerns made by parents and then make recommendations to the board.
About 10 parents spoke out against the plan Monday, some saying the redistricting is unnecessary and that students will spend more time on the bus.
Dr. McCartney said he doesn’t anticipate making major changes, but if the information brought to him by parents reveals the need for a change, he wanted the authority to make it.
The redistricting plans call for moving 309 students in kindergarten through fifth grade this year, and 474 K-5 students the following year to different schools. Approximately 60 students being redistricted this year will be attending school for the first time as kindergartners, while 83 of next year’s students will be in kindergarten.
Students living in Royal Oaks, Monmouth Mobile Home and those in the area of Deans and Deans Pond lanes would be affected in September. Students living in South Ridge Woods North, Kingston, Kingston Terrace, Woodhaven, Arrowwood, Wynwood, Foxtail, Princeton Gate, The Grande and the Reserve would be affected in September 2006.
Under both plans, fifth-graders will have the option of staying in their current schools. However, that offer does not extend to siblings not in fifth grade.
Redistricting plan is needed because of growing enrollment and a $46.32 million construction program that will add 600 classroom seats throughout the district.
Phase I, scheduled to be completed by September, includes a new wing at Greenbrook with eight classrooms, music and art rooms, a new gymnasium with a permanent built-in stage, new cafeteria and kitchen facilities, restrooms, storage and nurse’s office.
Renovations to the existing building include plans to alter three classrooms, four small group instruction rooms, a kindergarten classroom, faculty room, main office, principal’s office and counseling offices. The open space area in the middle of the school, called the pit, will become the library.
Improvements at Brunswick Acres include construction of eight classrooms and renovations to 13 three classrooms used for autistic student instruction, three small group instruction rooms, two basic skills classrooms, the library, cafeteria and storage areas. The open space classroom areas will become classrooms with floor-to-ceiling walls.
Phase II, expected to be completed by September 2006, includes work at Constable, Cambridge, Monmouth Junction and Crossroads North.

