Committee to make formal presentation

Group to share vision for future of elementary school buildings

A committee has reached a final recommendation on their vision for the future of Avon Lake’s elementary school buildings, according to a news release.

The Building Excellent Schools Team committee determined redrawing district lines is the best option moving forward.

The committee consisting of staff, parents, teachers, administrators and board of education members will make a formal presentation of the plan to the Avon Lake Board of Education on June 12.

If approved, the plan would take effect during the 2019-2020 school year.

Once a plan is approved, the district will begin an outreach effort to the community and begin working on plans for the new designation of lines, bus routes, transition plans for relocated students, PTA adjustments and staff placement, the release said.

Over the course of the last year, the committee came up with 13 options.

Following months of research, discussion, collection of input and reviewing logistics, the committee narrowed their options down to two, settling on a recommendation to redraw district lines as designated enrollment areas for the district’s four elementary schools, according to the release.

The committee settled on the community’s desire to emphasize neighborhood schools.

Furthermore, the committee felt redrawing district lines was more feasible than an alternative option which would have allotted two buildings for grades K-2 and two buildings for grades 3-4, citing logistical obstacles and an increased financial burden due to transportation, according to the release.

The committee also determined alternate arrival and dismissal times would have had a negative overall impact on students, parents, teachers and extracurricular activities.

Key components of the plan include:

• Redrawing district lines to indicate which streets are designated as the enrollment areas for each school.

• Projected growth and numbers to reflect a more balanced enrollment will drive the designated lines. Once those lines are determined, new maps will be provided.

• The committee concluded there will be no grandfathering of students in current placements. Students will be placed in schools based on the new designations.

• Lines will need to be reviewed again in the three to five years with the projected growth in the foreseen future.