A plan to redraw boundaries in the state's second largest school district is now before Fayette County School Board members. The 24 member school rezoning panel has completed its work after 31 meetings and four public hearings over the past year.
Fayette Schools Senior Director of Operations and Support, Mary Wright, says the group's work went beyond setting lines for elementary, middle, and high schools. "Some of the additional recommendations that they will be making to the board beyond just boundaries for schools, is to consider such alternatives as providing additional resources for those schools that have higher needs."
Wright says the guiding principals were to try to send students to neighborhood schools while also creating more socioeconomic balance.
Wright says, as with any school redistricting effort, not all parents are happy with all of the recommendations. She says, of the district wide student population of about 40,000, the plan calls for moving about 5,000 students. Wright applauds the work of the group. "This was probably the most dedicated folks I have ever worked with in and such a variety of community members who really put their individual preferences aside to do what they thought was best for the community and for the kids," added Wright.
The proposal takes into account the opening of two new elementary schools next year and a high school the following year. Future plans call for another elementary and middle school within five years. But Wright says that won't mean wide spread changes. "When those new schools come on line, it will be spot redistricting," she said. "It won't be a massive comprehensive effort like what we've just gone through."
Final action by the full board is scheduled for the end of May.
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