Thursday, March 25, 1999
Mason needs ideas on schools
Growth forces tough decisions
BY MIRIAM SMITH
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MASON — With almost 2,000 new students expected to enroll in the next three years, Mason City School leaders are asking the public for help.
More specifically, they want their opinions.
The district is hosting two community forums this spring examining the district's building and program needs.
Mason is the fastest-growing school district in Greater Cincinnati. Last fall, it gained 580 new students. District officials anticipate it will grow from its current 5,385 students to 7,324 in the 2001-02 school year.
“The growth is not going to go anywhere, so we need to make a long-term plan,” said district spokeswoman Shelly Benesh. “This is such a defining moment for us. It's very important the community tells us how it feels.”
Ms. Benesh said that with buildings at capacity and enrollment growing so fast, “We're going to have to make some choices.”
Some options the district likely will discuss are changing grade configurations. All schools now house two grades except the high school.
“Those decisions won't be made until we hear from the community,” she said. “That's why it's so important for them to come out and tell us what they think.”
Superintendent Kevin Bright said last month a new school will be needed in the district in the next two years. That means Mason will have to put a new tax levy on the ballot — likely within a year — that would pay for the school so it could open in two years, Mr. Bright has said.
The community dialogue will help a recently formed steering committee address some of the growth issues.
The district last month hired consultants DeJong & Associates of Dublin, Ohio, to assist the 47-member committee, which is made up of residents, private and public school parents, business and community leaders, and educators.
Dave Lenert, a member of the steering committee, said if all the area's planned housing development is built, the district could have as many as 800 students per class by the 2004-05 school year.
“I think the exploding growth we're continuing to see is a big concern,” said Mr. Lenert, also a school board member. “Obviously we need to continue to build.”
Some of the district's school buildings have been designed to hold 1,200 students, which means they're full about every two years, Mr. Lenert has said. The district last fall opened a school, Mason Intermediate, for grades 5-6.
“We're going to have to do something with the high school down the road,” he said.
Mr. Lenert said some options the committee may discuss include:
• One “mega” high school.
• Build a second high school.
• Open an “academy school,” in which students could focus on specialized areas such as science or math.
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