By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WYOMING - A community group will meet Tuesday to discuss concerns about the Wyoming School Board's early plans to reconfigure its elementary schools.

"Reconfiguration ... is Wyoming Next?" will be the theme of the meeting sponsored by the community group "It's not about the bus!"

Early next year, the school board plans to appoint a task force to determine whether the award-winning district of 1,900 students should convert its three neighborhood elementary schools to grade-level buildings. That would mean, for example, that grades 3-4 might be housed in one building.

"You don't have to be on the Internet long to find compelling research in favor of neighborhood schools," said Kay Walters, a Wyoming parent and organizer of the community group.

Wyoming's intent to study the issue comes after Finneytown Local School District began this school year with reconfigured elementary and middle schools. Reconfiguration and how it was communicated to the public was controversial in the 1,800-student district.

At Tuesday's meeting, Wyoming residents Jon Marty, Barb Boettcher, Joanne Wetzel and Michael Borackand others will talk about reconfiguration.

The group wants to know what reconfiguration will mean to their children and how the community will be involved in the decision-making, Walters said.

The board plans to study the issue as part of its strategic plan. A cross-section of administrators, teachers and community members will be appointed to the study group, said Wyoming Interim Superintendent Charles Waple.

One question, Walters said, is: Why mess with success? Wyoming has an "Excellent" rating - the highest possible - on the state's Local Report Card.

"There's always room for improvement, even though we're at the top in the state," Waple said.

If you go

What: "Reconfiguration ... is Wyoming Next?" a community-sponsored meeting to discuss possible reconfiguration of Wyoming's three elementary schools.

When: 7:30-9 p.m.Tuesday.Where: Wyoming Civic Center, 1 Worthington Ave.Information: 761-4409 or e-mail kwalters2@cinci.rr.com

---E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com