Wednesday, May 19, 1999
School overflows to local church
Area's growth forces choices
BY MIRIAM SMITH
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MORROW — Maineville Elementary kindergartners will be starting their school year in church classrooms this fall.
The Little Miami school board voted 4-1 to move about 90 kindergartners and students in the academically talented program to Maineville United Methodist Church, down the street from the school.
The board also elected to keep three classroom “splits,” in which two grade levels are taught together by the same teacher, at Butlerville Elementary School.
This would eliminate the need to transfer 37 students from Butlerville to Morrow Elementary this fall.
Two Butlerville parents told the board they were con cerned about the possibility of moving children from Butlerville to Morrow. Nancy McCarthy said her fourth-grade daughter is “crushed” to think she would have to leave her friends.
About 20 parents applauded after she spoke.
Since winter, the board has been seeking a way to open more classroom space as the district tries to brace for what may be unprecedented growth.
The southern Warren County district is facing the explosive housing buildup that Lakota, Mason and Boone County schools have seen the past 10 years.
Thirty subdivisions have been approved for development in the district — 8,408 houses. A recent study projected the district could almost double in the next 10 years, Little Miami Superintendent Michael Virelli has said.
Last fall, the district's enrollment grew by 71 students, from 2,467 to 2,538.
Last month, Mr. Virelli recommended to the board that about 90 kindergartners and students in the academically talented program be moved to the Maineville United Methodist Church.
Board member Gary Stringer, who opposed both measures, has said that portable classrooms are the best option.
It's expected that any relocated classrooms would be a one-year problem. That's because a larger high school, under construction, is expected to open in fall 2000 and ease crowding at other grade levels.
Academically talented students in grades 3-6 currently are bused from their home school to Maineville Elementary once a week for classes, board President Debbie Holliday said.
After the church classes, students will be bused back to their home school, where they can catch their normal bus home, she said.
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