Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, February 20, 1993 TAG: 9302200151
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
SCHOOL BOARD GETS NEXT REVIEW OF PROPOSED ATTENDANCE ZONES
The proposed attendance zones for three elementary schools in the town of Pulaski must now go to the Pulaski County School Board for approval.Superintendent William Asbury made it clear to about 90 people at a meeting Thursday night that changes still could be made.
"At this point, all it is is a draft," he said. "What we are presenting to you is the staff recommendations. It is not a finished product."
The School Board reviewed the draft in a closed workshop Jan. 28. Asbury said members received the information without comment.
The new attendance zones are for Critzer, Claremont and Northwood elementary schools. A fourth elementary school, Jefferson, will close at the end of this year because of its age, condition and declining enrollment. Maps of the proposed zones appeared in Friday's Current.
The Jefferson pupils will be redistributed in the other three schools. Critzer, which has housed all Pulaski town children in grades four and five, will be changed to a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade school like Claremont and Northwood.
"We think that's the best instructional plan for children," Asbury said. "The boundaries . . . were dictated by where people lived."
Other variables considered in drawing up the boundaries included gender of pupils, numbers at each grade level, pupil-teacher ratios, numbers in special programs, ethnic population, natural barriers such as railroads and waterways, handicapped children, pupils living in a zone for a school other than the one being attended and transition of pupils moving in and out of various zones.
"Already this year, 80 families have moved," Asbury said.
"The outside boundaries haven't changed at all," said Harry DeHaven, the school system's operations director. Attendance zones for the remaining three schools have been redrawn within those overall boundaries.
The number of pupils in each classroom at the three schools operating next year will be "as close to an average of 25 as it's possible to get," said Shirley Cook, director of curriculum and instruction. Numbers of kindergarten students had to be estimated, since there is no way to be sure how many there will be, she said.
Associate Superintendent Phyllis Bishop said school officials will answer questions at next week's follow-up meetings at Jefferson on Monday, Claremont on Tuesday, Critzer on Wednesday and Northwood on Thursday. Each session runs from 4 to 7 p.m.
"If we hang together, believe me, the kids are going to be fine. It's the parents who have to make the adjustment," Asbury said.