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Get RSS FeedDistrict will seek input before K-5 redistricting
* Olentangy leaders say a lack of communication led to problems during redistricting in 2009.
By BRETT NUCKLES
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Some Olentangy elementary school students in grades K-5 will be shuffled to different schools next year after the district's all-day kindergarten program is dissolved.
District Superintendent Wade Lucas announced at a board meeting Dec. 14 that the expanded kindergarten offering would get the ax this year as a cost-cutting measure.
The program's home base, Heritage Elementary School, will become a normal K-5 building.
The change, set to go into effect at the start of the 2012-13 school year, will force redistricting for area elementary schools.
District Superintendent Wade Lucas announced at a board meeting Dec. 14 that the expanded kindergarten offering would get the ax this year as a cost-cutting measure.
The program's home base, Heritage Elementary School, will become a normal K-5 building.
The change, set to go into effect at the start of the 2012-13 school year, will force redistricting for area elementary schools.
It isn't clear which students will be affected, but Lucas said administrators currently are reviewing options, and four to seven scenarios will be presented to the school board in February.
The district won't go without community input this time. A committee of parents and residents is set to provide feedback.
Parents signed up to participate on the volunteer committee in December.
Board members said the extra dialogue could help to avoid a scenario mirroring 2009's rocky redistricting.
"Last time we did this, we didn't have strong community input. We did it by the numbers, and that was a mistake," said board member Scott Galloway last month, before he stepped down from his board position.
Still, Lucas said the plan can't satisfy everyone.
"There's no such thing as a perfect plan," he said. "There's no such thing as redistricting where everyone is happy. The goal is to do it in the most efficient and fair way so we have equal balance in all the buildings."
It cost the district about $500,000 to enroll 330 kindergartners in the full-day kindergarten classes at Heritage Elementary School starting last fall.
In addition to kindergarten students, the school also houses around 100 of the district's more than 450 preschool students.
Heritage's 15 full-day kindergarten classrooms include what officials said are the district's most at-risk students, selected based on early performance indicators.
Administrators decided to eliminate the program after stacking the cost against budget and space limitations, Lucas said.
"What we have here is a fantastic program that has absolutely been beneficial for the students," he said. "It really comes down to space, capacity and cost."
He noted the district received a rating no lower than "Excellent" during the previous eight years before it was implemented.
The cost-cutting measures comes after district officials pledged last month to make cuts to stretch levy revenue for four years instead of three.
Board members will review options for redistricting at a meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 8 at the district's administrative offices, 814 Shanahan Road.
The district won't go without community input this time. A committee of parents and residents is set to provide feedback.
Parents signed up to participate on the volunteer committee in December.
Board members said the extra dialogue could help to avoid a scenario mirroring 2009's rocky redistricting.
"Last time we did this, we didn't have strong community input. We did it by the numbers, and that was a mistake," said board member Scott Galloway last month, before he stepped down from his board position.
Still, Lucas said the plan can't satisfy everyone.
"There's no such thing as a perfect plan," he said. "There's no such thing as redistricting where everyone is happy. The goal is to do it in the most efficient and fair way so we have equal balance in all the buildings."
It cost the district about $500,000 to enroll 330 kindergartners in the full-day kindergarten classes at Heritage Elementary School starting last fall.
In addition to kindergarten students, the school also houses around 100 of the district's more than 450 preschool students.
Heritage's 15 full-day kindergarten classrooms include what officials said are the district's most at-risk students, selected based on early performance indicators.
Administrators decided to eliminate the program after stacking the cost against budget and space limitations, Lucas said.
"What we have here is a fantastic program that has absolutely been beneficial for the students," he said. "It really comes down to space, capacity and cost."
He noted the district received a rating no lower than "Excellent" during the previous eight years before it was implemented.
The cost-cutting measures comes after district officials pledged last month to make cuts to stretch levy revenue for four years instead of three.
Board members will review options for redistricting at a meeting at 6 p.m. Feb. 8 at the district's administrative offices, 814 Shanahan Road.
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