Bursting at the seams
With hundreds more on their way, crowded Pickerington schools shuttle students all over and search for solutions
By Charlie Roduta THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
or Sidney Graham, school days start with a trip to her neighborhood school, Tussing Elementary. It?’s full, so every day the first-grader gets on a second bus, which takes her to Fairfield Elementary. It?’s not a perfect solution to overcrowding in Pickerington schools, and Sidney?’s mom, Carlie, worries that life will get more complicated this fall. That?’s when her son, Braden, will start kindergarten. Because of shifting district rules, he might end up at Tussing, separated from his big sister.
''It?’s confusing,?’?’ said Graham, whose husband was relocated to the area from Lexington, Ky., in October. ''I would like for them to be at the same school, but (my son) will probably go to Tussing because of the space in the schools.?’?’
Voters have rejected three bond issues that would have built schools, leaving limited options to house a booming student body. This year, the district changed attendance boundaries for its elementary students to keep up with the growth. On Tuesday, the board plans to form a short-term plan for the 340 additional elementary students they expect in the next two years.
''We?’re trying to get kids on a path and minimize the amount of redistricting,?’?’ said board President Lisa Reade. ''It?’s unfortunate we can?’t stop it. But we can?’t have elementary schools going as high as they are.?’?’
Reade said she hopes the board will avoid further changes in neighborhoods whose children have had to change schools in recent years and will look at plans that will keep students together from elementary to high school.
One option would be to turn Heritage Elementary into a K-4 building and move the fifth and sixth-graders from there to Harmon and Diley middle schools. The plan, which would be implemented this fall if the board approves, would free classroom space for incoming elementary students.
''We need to understand what?’s possible to do in every building,?’?’ Reade said.
After repeated losses at the polls, the board is reviewing its approach to voters. It has asked residents to fill out surveys on why they rejected the November bond issue, and it has hired a media consultant to help raise awareness of the district?’s needs.
The board is thinking about placing a $36 million bond issue on the May 2 ballot. The bond issue, similar those rejected in November and last May, would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $70 a year. It would pay for two elementary schools, land and several improvement projects.
''There has to be a community consensus,?’?’ said Barb Slaven, who has spent the past four years as spokeswoman for the city of Pickerington. ''It isn?’t just the schools, it isn?’t just the city, it isn?’t just (Violet) Township.?’?’
Some schools have run out of portable classroom space. New students are shuttled to nearby schools until room is available at their home school. Libraries, gyms and storage closets have become makeshift classrooms and tutoring areas. Art and music teachers travel from room to room with a cart.
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With hundreds more on their way, crowded Pickerington schools shuttle students all over and search for solutions
By Charlie Roduta THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
or Sidney Graham, school days start with a trip to her neighborhood school, Tussing Elementary. It?’s full, so every day the first-grader gets on a second bus, which takes her to Fairfield Elementary. It?’s not a perfect solution to overcrowding in Pickerington schools, and Sidney?’s mom, Carlie, worries that life will get more complicated this fall. That?’s when her son, Braden, will start kindergarten. Because of shifting district rules, he might end up at Tussing, separated from his big sister.
''It?’s confusing,?’?’ said Graham, whose husband was relocated to the area from Lexington, Ky., in October. ''I would like for them to be at the same school, but (my son) will probably go to Tussing because of the space in the schools.?’?’
Voters have rejected three bond issues that would have built schools, leaving limited options to house a booming student body. This year, the district changed attendance boundaries for its elementary students to keep up with the growth. On Tuesday, the board plans to form a short-term plan for the 340 additional elementary students they expect in the next two years.
''We?’re trying to get kids on a path and minimize the amount of redistricting,?’?’ said board President Lisa Reade. ''It?’s unfortunate we can?’t stop it. But we can?’t have elementary schools going as high as they are.?’?’
Reade said she hopes the board will avoid further changes in neighborhoods whose children have had to change schools in recent years and will look at plans that will keep students together from elementary to high school.
One option would be to turn Heritage Elementary into a K-4 building and move the fifth and sixth-graders from there to Harmon and Diley middle schools. The plan, which would be implemented this fall if the board approves, would free classroom space for incoming elementary students.
''We need to understand what?’s possible to do in every building,?’?’ Reade said.
After repeated losses at the polls, the board is reviewing its approach to voters. It has asked residents to fill out surveys on why they rejected the November bond issue, and it has hired a media consultant to help raise awareness of the district?’s needs.
The board is thinking about placing a $36 million bond issue on the May 2 ballot. The bond issue, similar those rejected in November and last May, would cost the owner of a $100,000 home about $70 a year. It would pay for two elementary schools, land and several improvement projects.
''There has to be a community consensus,?’?’ said Barb Slaven, who has spent the past four years as spokeswoman for the city of Pickerington. ''It isn?’t just the schools, it isn?’t just the city, it isn?’t just (Violet) Township.?’?’
Some schools have run out of portable classroom space. New students are shuttled to nearby schools until room is available at their home school. Libraries, gyms and storage closets have become makeshift classrooms and tutoring areas. Art and music teachers travel from room to room with a cart.
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