Redistricting plan resurfaces on agenda for next school board meeting
Published 5:07 pm Thursday, April 6, 2017
- Photo by Tosha Baker
A topic that took up much of the last school board meeting on Monday, March 20 has resurfaced on the agenda of a specially-called board meeting for Monday, April, 10.
Several parents and community members voiced their concerns about spot redistricting at the last board meeting, and some of them were even escorted out after speaking outside of the allotted time community members are given to speak.
One of the reasons given for the redistricting plan was the potential overcrowding of both Rosenwald-Dunbar Elementary and West Jessamine Middle School, while seats remain empty at other schools in the district.
One option that was heavily discussed on the March, 20th meeting — option two — would have caused the population at Brookside — a school building with the capacity to hold 630 students — to go from an estimated 523 students to 573. In turn, RDES — a school building that has the capacity to hold 620 students with an enrollment of approximately 670 — was estimated to decrease to about 569 students.
This option would cause around 54 elementary students and 54 secondary students to change from being potential West students to East students.
Parent Virginia Mims presented three options that she and other parents and community members had created to be compared to the three options that were first presented to the board by Assistant Superintendent and Chief Operations Officer of Jessamine County Schools, Val Gallutia, at a work session on Feb. 13.
Following presentations and discussion on the topic, Board Chairwoman Amy Day abstained herself from the vote because she owns property in an area that will be redistricted.
The outcome of the night was a 2-2 vote, with board members Hallie Bandy and Debbie Hood voting yes to option two and John Branscum and Bobby Welch voting no.
Option two, was not passed that night and no official action was taken, however, it is still on the table to be considered.
A special meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 10 will allow the spot redistricting plan to be up for approval once more.
Other topics for approval include accepting the lowest and best bid by Marillia Design and Construction for the construction of a diesel mechanics CTE program, and the renovation of the transportation department project as well as a revision of a BG-1 concerning the two projects.
The meeting will be held at the Jessamine County Board of Education Royse Building located at 871 Wilmore Road in Nicholasville. It will be followed by a work session.
A parent forum will be hosted at Rosenwald – Dunbar Elementary prior to the board meeting for the purpose of parents and community members to discuss any additional thoughts and information about the redistricting. Superintendent Kathy Fields, and potentially board members Bobby Welch and John Branscum, will be present. The forum will be hosted from 5 to 5:45 p.m. on Monday, April 10 in the Rosenwald-Dubar Library.
