By Michael D. Clark
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MADEIRA - Hundreds of students here might find themselves attending classes in a Milford school this fall under one school construction plan now being considered by Madeira school officials.

In an unusual arrangement Milford school officials in Clermont County have offered to allow the 325 students who attend Madeira's Sellman Middle School in Hamilton County to use Milford's Main Middle School while a new Sellman school is constructed at the current Miami Avenue site.

Madeira school officials touted the short distance (less than five miles) from Sellman to the Main Middle School's Lila Avenue location to more than 100 Madeira school parents who this week attended a meeting outlining construction options.

Voters in Madeira last month approved a $28 million bond issue that allows for construction of both a new Sellman and a new Dumont Primary School. While students will remain at the larger, 8-acre Dumont construction site, Madeira officials are concerned that Sellman's smaller site would mean disruptions, safety concerns and the displacement of students into portable classrooms.

Milford officials said two new schools opening in their district would leave Main Middle available.

Madeira Superintendent Stephen Kramer said opinions from parents show "there is support for moving the students off-site."

Sellman parent Denise Arkfeld said parents should be mindful that objecting to the move could burden future students by limiting the new school's construction options.

"Sometimes you have to look at the big picture. We don't have a lot of options and I'm OK with the move," said Arkfeld.

The Madeira Board of Education is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Monday at Madeira High School to decide on a Sellman option. Both new schools are scheduled for completion by August 2006.

E-mail mclark@enquirer.com