Roanoke officials consider minor changes to school attendance zones

Roanoke education officials are mulling some minor changes to elementary school attendance zones.

While no action was taken, the Roanoke School Board discussed seven possible changes during a retreat Tuesday that, if approved, would take effect in the 2014-15 school year. The potential changes would likely affect about 37 students.

“We’re talking really minor tweaks,” board member Lori Vaught said. “These are just so minor. They really clean up some of the mistakes that happened because when we did it, we did it for the first time in 40 years.”

The school board redrew attendance zones in 2009 for the first time since 1971. The 1970s-era boundaries were part of a court-ordered desegregation plan and had become severely outdated.

Tuesday’s discussion was part of a five-year review of attendance boundary changes.

Officials said the proposed changes address streets that were split or situations where the school a child lives within sight of is not the school they currently attend.

For instance one proposed change, which is estimated to affect three students, would change a boundary so some students who live in sight of Highland Park Elementary School attend the school instead of Wasena Elementary School.

Another possible change and the one that would affect the most students moves a boundary in the Forest Hill Avenue area changing the zone from Round Hill Elementary School to Preston Park Elementary School, estimated to affect 16 students.

The board intends to further discuss potential changes at a work session next month, including if and/or how students would be grandfathered into any changes, and before any decision the board must hold a public hearing.

Board Chairman Todd Putney said a public hearing would be held in October or November, a vote in early in 2014 and any changes would take place next school year.

Superintendent Rita Bishop said after the meeting Tuesday that the board was looking at boundaries again as they said they would do.

“There are some obvious adjustments,” she said, adding the community would have ample opportunity to comment on any changes.

Weather Journal

2 days ago

1. One person injured in Friday night shooting in Roanoke

2. Britney Spears spotted at Lynchburg restaurant

3. 'Best defense in nation,' Tech player says about victory over ECU 

4. East Carolina poses new challenge for Virginia Tech football 

5. Lowe's tapes may hold clues to Roanoke woman's death

6. William Byrd stuns Salem in football win

7. Concert review: Timeless Willie Nelson plays to appreciative crowd

8. Blacksburg lawyer Painter’s bond revoked

9. History says this one will matter for Virginia Tech

10. Roanoke County electrical short quiets 5 Wheeler radio stations