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October 4, 2006
The Catawba County Board of Education met on October 4, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. at Sherrills Ford Elementary School to conduct the third of four Community Redistricting Meetings with Chairman Charlie Wyant presiding. The following members were present: Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Spencer, Mr. Scott, Mrs. Butler and Mr. Sigmon. Also in attendance were Superintendent Timothy Markley, Assistant Superintendents Doyle Brinson, Pat Hensley and Beth Isenhour, Attorney Crystal Davis, Chief Technology Officer Judith Ray, Elementary Education Director Walter Zahler, Middle School Education Director Michael Wyant, Sherrills Ford Elementary School Principal Vermel Moore and Catawba Intermediate School Principal Cynthia McKee. Mr. Hilton was not present for the meeting.
Chris Gilfillan represented the Observer News Enterprise.
The meeting opened with a Moment of Silence followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mrs. Blackburn. Upon a motion made by Mrs. Butler and seconded by Mrs. Blackburn, the agenda was unanimously approved.
Assistant Superintendent Brinson welcomed everyone in attendance and thanked Principal Moore for hosting the meeting. Board members and school officials present at the meeting were introduced. Assistant Superintendent Brinson began by outlining the format of the meeting emphasizing that the presented redistricting plan is only a DRAFT and community input is a vital planning component of the redistricting process. The format of the meeting will include: a power point presentation; maps set up at various locations in the Media Center with Board members and representatives from the school system available at each station to answer any questions and gather community input; comment cards available at each station; and, computers available for on-line comments. Maps and comment cards will also be available at the schools until
October 13, 2006 for Public input and comments.
Assistant Superintendent Brinson then presented the power point presentation of the DRAFT Redistricting Plan. His presentation began with background information. Rationale for the new Catawba Elementary School included: relief of growth pressure from the southeastern end of Catawba County; to provide capacity for future growth; and, to enable elementary schools to return to the K-6 organizational structure at Claremont, Balls Creek and Sherrills Ford Elementary Schools. Due to the failure of the last school bond, the sixth graders have been located at Catawba Intermediate School longer than expected. Subdivisions have been approved in the southeastern part of county, as well as in the Claremont/Catawba areas. The location of the new Catawba Elementary School, at the intersection of Hudson Chapel Road and Lowrance Road
(approximately .5 mile from Catawba Intermediate School), will also enable four schools to benefit from the new school. General facts for the new school included: a student capacity of 700; twenty-eight K-6 classrooms; eleven special classrooms; 83,000 square feet; twenty-three acres; and, a target opening date of August 2007. The footprint of the new school is similar to Lyle Creek Elementary School. Assistant Superintendent Brinson presented the general boundary lines in the affected draft redistricting plan. He emphasized that the lines are fluid and serve as a beginning point for the redistricting conversation. Consequently, some of the affected lines now may change and some unaffected lines may be affected with the approved plan. Boundary line changes included: high school boundaries were adjusted to create a clearer line (the high school students that will be “grandfathered” at their request if they are affected by the new lines); highway 70 will become the
northernmost line; the southeastern line would add seven miles to a student’s ride to school from the farthest point when all travel is analyzed; and students living in the southwestern part of the Sherrills Ford Elementary School attendance area currently travel a great distance to Catawba Intermediate School. Assistant Superintendent Brinson emphasized one key point in redistricting is the consideration of routing buses to effectively serve the transportation needs of the students. Other emphasizes included: Sherrills Ford Elementary School is in an area experiencing rapid growth; Sherrills Ford Elementary School is exceeding its capacity (four trailers and 121% capacity based on 2006 day-20 enrollment 721); projected 2007 day-20 enrollment 844 (141% capacity – if no redistricting adjustments are made); large housing developments have been approved in an area northeast of Sherrills Ford Elementary School; some students will be closer to existing elementary schools than
they are to the new Catawba Elementary School; the new Catawba Elementary School is in a geographical position that will enable sixth grade students to return to their assigned elementary schools; no plan will satisfy 100% of our school community; the new Catawba Elementary School will open with approximately 450-500 students which will allow for anticipated growth from future developments; and, the new Catawba Elementary School will be a state-of-the-art elementary school that will offer its students a quality education.
To conclude his presentation, Assistant Superintendent Brinson stated several points that will be considered in the proposed redistricting plan and the timeline. Points included: “grandfathering” students at existing schools affected by the new district lines; allowing space for student growth from the southeastern area of the county; considering how other schools factor into redistricting; and, addressing after-school program concerns. On October 23, the Board of Education will conduct a work session in conjunction with its regular meeting to discuss the Public input received. Approval of the redistricting plan will be at the December 4 Board of Education meeting.
Before the meeting was opened to the Public to receive their input and comments at the four map locations, several questions of concern were asked. Superintendent Markley and Assistant Superintendent Brinson addressed the questions. After input and comments were received, Chairman Wyant thanked everyone for their attendance and input at the meeting. There being no other items of business, Mrs. Spencer made the motion to adjourn. Mrs. Butler seconded the motion with no opposition. The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
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Charlie Wyant, Chairman
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Timothy S. Markley, Secretary
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