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Highlands Today

New Elementary To Draw Students From 4 Schools

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By MARC VALERO | Highlands Today

Published: February 5, 2008

AVON PARK — Memorial Elementary School, on schedule to open in August, will be populated with students coming from four existing elementary schools, according to the district's proposed attendance plan.

"We've got a boundary that we think is a logical one and hopefully it will be cost efficient," Assistant Superintendent of Business/Operations Mike Averyt said Monday. "We've got two public hearings to adopt the changes in the boundaries so we will be able to get public input at that point."

The affected schools, from which some neighborhoods will be reassigned to the new school, are Sun 'n Lake Elementary, Avon Elementary, Park Elementary and Woodlawn Elementary.

With the largest elementary school enrollment in the district, Sun 'n Lake Elementary will have the greatest enrollment decrease, Averyt said. The goal is to reduce enrollment at the school from 900 to about 650 students.

The details of the proposed redistricting and school attendance zone maps will be released soon and will be presented at the public hearings, he said.

The school board will vote today to advertise its intent to develop and pursue a redistricting plan. A development hearing on the plan is scheduled for March 18. The final hearing and vote on adoption is scheduled for April 29.

The Jan. 31 enrollment at the four elementary schools affected by the attendance redistricting follows:

u Avon Elementary – 751
u Park Elementary – 690
u Sun 'N Lake Elementary – 908
u Woodlawn Elementary – 652

School board members, Superintendent Wally Cox and Averyt visited the Memorial Elementary construction site Monday morning.

"Excellent," Averyt said of the progress at the work site on Memorial Drive. "It's coming along real well. The board members were really impressed with the design and the construction."

Workers are currently installing the duct work, Averyt said. The project is on schedule and on budget.

In December, Superintendent Wally Cox named Fred Wild Elementary Principal Ruby Handley principal of the new school. Handley is finishing the school year at Fred Wild Elementary as she prepares her transition to the new school.

Cox said Monday he has not yet selected a replacement for Handley at Fred Wild Elementary .

The School Board of Highlands County will hold a regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. today in the Garland Boggus Board Room, 426 School St., Sebring.

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