Published: November 14, 2007 08:42 am         

Board of Education looks at redistricting

CUMBERLAND - Redistricting might be an option that few want to consider.

On Tuesday, though, the Allegany County Board of Education approved letting county staff look into the idea - but already there was plenty of thought as to what should be open for discussion.

Superintendent William AuMiller asked the board to consider allowing the staff to proceed with an all-inclusive redistricting plan. The effort would address the attendance of students with out-of-district permits and current transportation policies, AuMiller said.

Both of those issues have come before the board in recent months, AuMiller said.

"This doesn't obligate you to anything," AuMiller told board members. "The study could encompass the whole system or any part."

The staff would have its study completed by January, AuMiller said. That's in time for the county to form school committees much like what happened with the consolidation of Beall and Westmar high schools. AuMiller said the state Department of Education views redistricting the same as consolidation, but the study would not "approach the subject of closing or consolidating a school."

Board President Jeff Metz asked if the study could focus only on elementary school issues. AuMiller pointed out that middle schools are directly affected by overcrowding issues at the lower level.

But Metz said he strongly opposed moving students to a new school and asked that current students be grandfathered in should any new alignment take shape.

"I would only support such an endeavor with significant grandfathering of current students," Metz said. "I'll vote against (redistricting without such a clause) every single time."

Metz said he wouldn't, for example, traumatize a 10th grader by moving that student from Allegany High School to Fort Hill High School.

The student, he said, "would be extremely distraught. The parents would be outraged."

AuMiller said the cost of grandfathering in current students "would be excessive."

Board member Tom Striplin argued that applying any new alignment policy only to new students "could result in more overcrowding."

Fred Sloan, board vice president, said he would like to see a redistricting proposal. Having such information would make future decisions more sound, he said.

"We have some current situations that need to be corrected," Sloan said.

Board member Jane Dawson agreed the current alignment needs to be reviewed. She said there are 15 daycare providers in a certain school district. The number of out-of-district permits for students requiring transportation to those caregivers are causing overcrowding of classrooms.

"I think it's necessary to look at the whole thing," Dawson said.

Karen Treber, board member, said that she promised Michael and Melissa Stankan, the parents of a 12-year-old middle school student who walks more than 2.5 miles roundtrip to school and back, that she would look into the transportation issue.

The student lives about 1.38 miles from school. The transportation policy dictates only middle school students living 1.5 miles or more away from school be permitted to ride a bus.

"The transportation aspect of this is very important to me," Treber said.

She wondered what it would cost to shorten the distance for middle schoolers to 1 mile.

Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.