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Central Point studies school borders By VICKI GUARINO A proposal that could change enrollment at all five Central Point district elementary schools goes to the school board tonight. The plan to alter school boundaries is being considered as a way to resolve crowding at schools within the city of Central Point. The board will review the enrollment plan at 7:30 p.m. at Patrick Elementary School in Gold Hill. For more than a year, some students have been turned away from some schools because classes have grown too large and no extra classroom space is available. A bus service has been shuttling students among the three most crowded schools -- Richardson, Jewett and Central Point Elementary. And in some cases, schools have resorted to makeshift rooms. At Richardson, for instance, locker rooms are being used for classes for students who need extra help. Rural elementary schools have more space for students. Patrick Elementary and Sams Valley Elementary have experienced enrollment declines. Sams Valley Elementary saw enrollment drop by more than 9 percent from last year, to 250 students. In contrast, Central Point Elementary, the district's largest elementary school, saw enrollment grow by nearly 3 percent, to 484 students. Without some boundary and enrollment changes, district officials fear the crowding problem will worsen -- especially at the in-town schools. About 1,000 homes are in some stage of development around Central Point. Last fall, the school board appointed a committee to examine both school enrollment boundaries and transportation needs. Re-alignment of boundaries would have to be accomplished with district busing limitations in mind, Superintendent Mike McClain said. The district is using aging buses and can't provide many additional bus runs. A committee of school and city officials, including incoming district Superintendent Candy Manary, has been working on the boundaries since November. "It's been a pretty thorough committee," Manary said Monday. The proposal the group has produced, she added, "could affect enrollment at all of the schools." Tonight's board review of the proposal will be the first of several meetings on the plan, she added. In a related issue, the board also is expected to receive a petition seeking establishment of sixth-grade classes at Sams Valley and Patrick. All district elementary schools serve up to grade 5 now. Meetings on enrollment boundaries will be held through March at all of the district elementary schools. Manary said the board is expected to vote on boundary changes in April. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA