FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – Florence One is taking another look at plans to reconfigure attendance lines in the district. Those in favor say it will enhance students’ learning environments and reduce overcrowding.
“It’s getting very confusing, a lot of things were changing,” said one parent.
The Board of Trustees met Thursday night and heard from parents not wild about the plan.
“I am concerned with this reconfiguration going on.”
The school district has been talking about reconfiguring to a true 6th-8th grade middle school model for many years now, and asked Superintendent Dr. Randy Bridges to find out what it would take to do just that.
“That is, as you heard burdensome for our family,” said another parent.
Parents concerned about the plan mostly had complaints about some of the finer lines of the latest attendance map, which would have some families zone for schools in their backyards driving across town to attend others.
“So you’re gonna bus kids in from across Third Loop Rd, and take them to Royal when I live across the street and can walk?”
After hearing from parents, Dr. Bridges and other board members reiterated to families that no firm plan exists, that the information-gathering process is still ongoing, and that no move would be made without input from parents.
One big question from parents and amongs board members was whether the intention was to have the new attendance map finalized and in use by next school year in August of 2017. Parents said that their main concern is that the board get this plan right, and consider the needs of everyone along the way.
“We’ll support you guys as long as we have input.”
Board members did ask fro more data regarding the possible impact on bus routes and staffing before they start meeting again next month.
“We’re here for our kids, we’re looking for common sense growth.”
