Wednesday, April 14, 1999
Fewer Lakota students to move
Reassignment to reduce crowding
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
UNION TOWNSHIP — One hundred fewer students will be changing elementary schools in August under a plan to reduce crowding in the Lakota school system.
The revised plan presented by Superintendent Kathleen Klink and approved by the school board Monday night will move 180 children out of Cherokee and Freedom elementary schools. At the end of the 1999-2000 school year, enrollment will be evaluated again to see whether more children will need to be moved.
The original plan had about 280 students changing schools.
“This gives us the opportunity to be more cautious,” Mrs. Klink said. “Clearly, we have a need to relieve overcrowding at Cherokee and Freedom.”
The district serves the fast-growing area of Liberty and Union townships in Butler County. Officials attribute the district's enrollment increase to housing construction, the opening of two high schools last year and the opening of the Union Centre Boulevard interchange on Interstate 75.
From the 1995 academic year to this year, Lakota's enrollment has jumped 21.5 percent — 11,637 to 14,139.
The revised plan calls for children who live in the Meadow Ridge subdivision to move from Freedom to Adena elementary schools. Those who live in the Countryside Estates trailer park, Fox Chapel and the Cherokee Estates subdivision will move from Cherokee to Liberty elementary schools.
The changes mean:
• Students who live along Rockdale Road, or in the Elk Run and Williamsburg subdivisions, will remain at Cherokee for the upcoming school year.
• Students living along Gano Road will remain at Union Elementary School.
• Those who live in the Northpointe Town Homes will remain at Freedom Elementary School.
“I'm very happy,” said parent Tracy Payne, who lives in Northpointe Town Homes. “I thought it was a losing battle. You got to fight for what you believe in. I did it for my child. I'm her voice.”
With the boundary changes, enrollment at Freedom Ele mentary is projected at 767 students. The building has a capacity of 800. Adena's enrollment will be about 761, and its capacity is 825.
Cherokee will be at 804 students, with a capacity of 825.
Liberty's enrollment will be 581 students, with a capacity of 650. All estimates include projected growth in enrollment, Mrs. Klink said.
“This is a much more cautious approach,” said board member Jeff Jones. “I'm sure there are people that won't like it and that's unfortunate. I tried to listen carefully. Please don't confuse not agreeing with not listening.”
Parents whose children will change schools next fall as well as those whose move has been postponed will receive information on the board's decision, Mrs. Klink said.
“The families at Countryside Village became part of the Cherokee family. I don't think they were happy. It's hard for them and it's hard for us. I'm sure they'll find the same warmth at Liberty,” said Cherokee Principal Elizabeth Spurlock.
“Having them say they like our school and fighting to stay here speaks to the parental involvement you want in the schools. It says they care and that's what we want. I know the board and superintendent struggled with this decision.”
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