Thursday, January 27, 2000
Students in limbo until March 7 vote
Don't know which school they'll attend
BY SUE KIESEWETTER
Enquirer Contributor
MIDDLETOWN — Teresa and Donald Ledford aren't sure if they live within the boundaries of the proposed Monroe school district.
But they do know they want their son to go to Lemon-Monroe High School when he leaves Verity Middle School in June. They are pleased their son will prepare two schedules for his freshman year: one if he goes to Lemon-Monroe High; one if he goes to Middletown High.
“Either way, he's got a schedule,” Mr. Ledford said. “It's better than not knowing.”
Planning transition
The Ledfords were among a handful of parents who attended an assembly for Verity's 300 eighth-graders this week as they begin planning their transition from middle to high school. Many of the students won't know for several months where they will go to school.
On March 7, Monroe voters will decide whether to split from the Middletown/Monroe schools and form their own district. Should the split occur, there is no guarantee there will be room for the Verity eighth-graders who live in Middletown but live within the attendance area for Lemon-Monroe High School.
Today, freshmen, sophomores and juniors who live in Middletown but attend Lemon-Monroe High will visit Middletown High School with their teachers. The visit's purpose is to acquaint the teens with teachers and other students.
A scheduling fair at Middletown High will be 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 3. It will feature tours of the building with counselors, and teachers will be available to talk about courses and textbooks.
Limited room
“We need to be ready with your high school schedule wherever you go,” Verity principal Larry Knapp told the eighth-graders during the hour-long assembly.
Said Middletown/Monroe Superintendent Wayne Driscoll: “We want the parents and students to be as informed as possible. If (students) have dual schedules they can change their minds (about which school) and still get the courses they want.”
The executive committee for the proposed Monroe district says it has room for 1,000 students in grades 7-12. First priority for those spots will go to students who live within the new district's boundaries, followed by those already at the school who live in Middletown.
Verity students had a lot of questions during the assembly, covering everything from open enrollment and sports to school uniforms.
“I thought they asked a lot of well-thought-out questions that show they know what's going on,” Mr. Knapp said.
Suzi Rubin, who is leading the separation effort and has an eighth-grade daughter at Verity, said she was glad she went to the assembly and pleased with how Mr. Knapp conducted it.
“I wanted to hear the questions so I know what kind of information we need to get out,” Mrs. Rubin said.
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