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Busing plan hits roadblock C.P. may redraw lines instead By VICKI GUARINO A plan to ease school crowding by busing Central Point youngsters to the district's rural schools may cause more problems than it would solve. Instead, the district may look to redrawing school boundaries to ease enrollment at in-town elementary schools -- particularly Jewett and Richardson. Superintendent Mike McClain says he will ask the board tonight to consider reconfiguring school attendance areas. Also, McClain says, he'll ask the board to permit a small-scale busing program until new school boundaries are drawn. The superintendent's proposals are a departure from a proposal from Central Point School Board Chairman Dave Gilmour two weeks ago. Gilmour proposed busing youngsters from new Central Point subdivisions to Sams Valley and Patrick elementary schools. Richardson staffers have had to turn students away and resort to makeshift classrooms to accommodate growing enrollment. Jewett staffers this year also began turning students away, sending some kindergartners to Central Point Elementary. Gilmour suggested that the busing scheme would be the least disruptive to all district families. It initially would involve students from four large subdivisions now in development -- three in the area of Hamrick Road and a fourth off Scenic Avenue. The alternative to busing -- redrawing school boundaries -- could involve many more families and result in transferring students away from friends and schools they had attended, Gilmour reasoned. But after several days of district staff discussion, McClain says, a large-scale busing effort appears to be impossible because the district doesn't have enough buses. Reassigning buses for Gilmour's plan might be possible, but would require changing school-start times. The busing plan that appears most workable to district staff would be an expansion of one started three years ago. The district has used cross-over zones to redirect some students to Sams Valley Elementary from Jewett and Central Point Elementary School, says Sams Valley Principal Larry Shearer. About 25-30 kids take the crossover option now to attend Sams Valley. McClain says that program could be expanded by 10-20 students. Sams Valley has the room, says Shearer, although increased enrollment could require other accommodations for art and special projects rooms and computer lab. "But we'd be fine, we can take the students," Shearer insists. Discussion comes virtually on the eve of the vote on a financing plan that would resolve the district's overcrowding problems in years to come. Voters next week will be asked to approve a $36.7 million bond plan that would replace aging Central Point Elementary and add rooms at Richardson. But even if the measure passes, district officials say new space won't be available for about three years -- well after many of the subdivisions under construction in Central Point are finished. "Regardless of the bond levy," McClain says, "we have to do something now. That's why I'm going to recommend we put together a boundary committee." The committee would study the community's and the schools' needs and make an enrollment area recommendation to the board, possibly during the winter. McClain said he hopes boundaries can be redrawn in a way that would take into account new school construction -- if the levy passes -- to avoid shifting boundaries again. What : Central Point School District board meeting When : 7:30 tonight Where : Hanby Middle School, Gold Hill Topic : Board will consider process to redraw school attendance areas and a temporary busing plan. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA