Email
Print
Swapping schools
Redistricting plans may rearrange some students
Alan Rogers
Tim Markley, superintendent of Catawba County Schools, explains a proposed redistricting plan for the St. Stephens area during a public meeting at Clyde Campbell Elementary on Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: October 10, 2008
HICKORY - Amy Grissom wanted to know if a street light would be installed and sidewalks constructed to make the trip to school safer at the new Snow Creek Elementary School.
Grissom was one of the parents who raised questions at the Catawba County Schools redistricting meeting at Clyde Campbell Elementary School Thursday night. Although every elementary school in the St. Stephens district will be affected by the redistricting plans, Clyde Campbell Elementary will send the most students to Snow Creek Elementary, the new school opening in August 2009.
Timothy Markley, superintendent of Catawba County Schools, told Grissom that the school system asked the N.C. Department of Transportation to conduct a traffic study where the school is located — the first step in getting a stoplight. They've also requested a turn lane, as well. However, that doesn't guarantee that the N.C. DOT will install a stoplight or a turn lane at the school, Markley cautioned.
Sidewalks along the road to the school are not something that the school system can pursue.
"If you've noticed, the school is set back a little bit from the road. We don't own the lot in front of the school to put sidewalks there," Markley said.
At the community meeting, parents also learned that Catawba County Schools is considering grandfathering rising sixth-graders, so they would not have to leave their current elementary school to go to a new school.
Karen Gimblet has a rising sixth-grader and a rising fourth-grader. She wanted to know if there was a possibility both her children could stay at Clyde Campbell.
"We'll have to look at the number of transfers before we can decide. It will probably be late February or March before we'll know," Markley said.
He added that students can ride the bus only to the school they're supposed to attend according to their address. Grandfathered children would have to have their own transportation to school.
Parents with children moving to Snow Creek Elementary also learned at Thursday's meeting that there will be no playground equipment at the school when it opens.
"It's been the practice not to include playground equipment at new schools, and that's usually been one of the first things PTOs work to purchase through fundraising," Markley said.
At the redistricting meeting, Catawba County Schools also unveiled who the principal will be at Snow Creek, Wally Zahler, the current principal of Sweetwater Elementary School. With Sweetwater Elementary closing its doors after this school year, Zahler will move from that school to Snow Creek, Markley said.
Catawba County Schools will host a meeting to discuss redistricting at St. Stephens Elementary School on Tuesday, Oct. 14, and one at Murray Elementary on Thursday, Oct. 16. Both meetings will be at 6 p.m.
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
Advertisement
