Lexington School District One Approves Modified Zoning Plan

As many already know, Lexington School District One is building a new elementary school with doors scheduled to be open for the 2008-2009 school year. Back in December 2007, the district board approved a "modified" version of the zoning plan it had introduced in November. That modification is that the Willowbrooke subdivision will remain at Lake Murray Elementary and Pleasant Hill Middle instead of being moved to New Providence Elementary and Lexington Middle.

Also noteworthy, the district will allow grandfathering of rising fifth graders designated to move to a new school, rising sixth graders at Lexington Intermediate School designated to move to a new school and rising eighth graders designated to move to a new school. This grandfather clause will only apply if parents of these children provide transportation.

For the full press:

Lexington One board approves modified zoning plan
LEXINGTON — At the December 11, 2007 regular monthly meeting of the Lexington County School District One Board of Trustees, the board approved a new zoning plan for the Lexington Attendance Area.

This zoning plan was made necessary by growth in the Lexington Attendance Area and the addition of New Providence Elementary School, currently under construction on Old Cherokee Road. New Providence Elementary opens in August of 2008 for the 2008–2009 school year.

The approved zoning plan still uses the same basic boundary lines for schools as the original proposal presented at the November board meeting by the district’s consultant. The plan maintains community based schools, minimizes the division of subdivisions, considers balance for student diversity, allows future student growth in permanent facilities, considers transportation patterns for safe and efficient student transportation, and utilizes natural and major road boundaries where possible.

However, the approved rezoning plan does reflect one change. The Willowbrooke subdivision located off Park Road was originally slated to move from Lake Murray Elementary and Pleasant Hill Middle schools to New Providence Elementary and Lexington Middle schools.

The modified rezoning plan keeps the Willowbrooke subdivision at Lake Murray Elementary and Pleasant Hill Middle schools.

Since the original presentation, Lexington One administrators have held four public meetings at various schools throughout the Lexington Attendance Area. At those meetings Lexington One parents had the opportunity to review the proposed attendance lines, ask district administrators questions, discuss the proposed lines with board members and give written feedback.

Board members received spreadsheets containing every comment after the meetings.

Assistant Superintendent for Administration Joe Bedenbaugh stated that there were many reasons for adjusting the plan.

However, the most compelling reason was summed up by a parent on his comment sheet as, "Why overcrowd Lexington Middle School even more?"

Even though this modification causes Lake Murray Elementary and Pleasant Hill Middle to receive slightly less relief than originally proposed, the board felt the changed justified.

Lexington One grew 700 students this year. On average the district grows about 500 students each year. New numbers also indicate continued rapid growth in the Lexington Attendance Area. In answer to that growth, district administrators continue to look for land for new schools and plan for the future.

The district will also allow grandfathering of rising fifth-graders designated to move to a new school, rising sixth-graders at Lexington Intermediate School designated to move to a new school and rising eighth-graders designated to move to a new school. If parents of these children provide transportation, their children can remain at their current school for that last attendance year.

Letters regarding grandfathering will go out after winter break.

New Providence Elementary is expected to have 670 students when it opens for the 2008-2009 school year.