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School shuffle to be discussed Central Point plan to ease crowding gets another look By VICKI GUARINO CENTRAL POINT -- School board members will take a second look tonight at plans to ease crowding by shuffling students to rural schools. The proposal to change enrollment boundaries for all five district elementary schools would shift some 200 students to different schools next fall. Several weeks ago the board briefly reviewed the proposal and asked for public comment. At 7:30 tonight in the district administration office, 451 N. Second St., board members will review the public's responses as well as take a close look at the plan itself. District Education Director Candy Manary said Monday that the board will not vote on the plan tonight. A board vote is scheduled for April 27. If approved, it would alter the enrollment areas for all of the elementary schools when classes start in the fall. The proposal is the same as the plan announced in late February by a board-appointed committee. Generally, the students living in Central Point, but closest to elementary schools in Gold Hill and Sams Valley, would be reassigned to those schools. Patrick Elementary, in Gold Hill, would gain 60 students, according to district counts. Sams Valley Elementary, on Table Rock Road, would gain 110 students. Public forums have been held at all of the elementary schools. Also, enrollment changes have been discussed at parent-teacher conferences. No strong opposition to the plan has arisen, district officials say. Board and district officials say they want to have the new boundary lines in place as soon as possible, however, so that families could plan for fall. Also, district officials want to be able to offer transfers, allowing families some choice in schools -- especially for older students who want to continue at particular schools and for families who want to keep siblings together. "We will certainly do our best," Manary said, to honor enrollment requests. In cases of school transfers, parents will have to provide transportation. District officials have agreed that changing enrollment boundaries is the quickest and least expensive way to ease overcrowding at the elementary schools within Central Point city limits. The in-town schools are feeling the effects of housing growth. At Richardson Elementary, for instance, stage and locker room areas have been turned into classrooms. At the same time, district officials have seen enrollment declines in rural elementary schools in Gold Hill and Sams Valley. Families in those communities are getting older, according to Superintendent Mike McClain, and no longer have grade-school-age children at home. Enrollment is down by more than 7 percent at Patrick Elementary, and nearly 5 percent at Sams Valley from a year ago, according to the district's most recent enrollment report, made March 31. Enrollment is up by more than 4 percent from last year at Jewett and Richardson schools in Central Point. Overall, enrollment in Central Point district schools is up 1.6 percent from last year, to 4,568. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA