Setting boundaries
School board gets first look at Winterpock redistricting
By Donna C. Gregory ASSISTANT EDITOR

Page Dowdy/Chesterfield Observer Spring Run Elementary School uses about 18 trailers as classrooms, but a new boundary change proposal under consideration could alleviate overcrowding at the school.

Hundreds of elementary students in the western part of the county will be heading to another school this fall. But, the number of students making the move won't be as large as it could be if the Chesterfield School Board approves a boundary change proposed by a committee of mostly parents from Spring Run, Grange Hall and Clover Hill elementary schools.

The committee presented its boundary proposal during a school board meeting last week.

The redistricting is required because of the opening of the new Winterpock Elementary School, located just south of Hampton Park in the new Harper's Mill subdivision, this fall. However, due to current and future overcrowding in the area, only two of the four schools under consideration will be impacted. Spring Run and Grange Hall will receive relief from crowded classrooms while Clover Hill and Alberta Smith will remain untouched.

According to school board Chairman Tom Doland, the committee's proposal really came down to sheer numbers. "When we just have one [new] elementary school, we are not going to solve every problem," said Doland, who represents the Matoaca District where Winterpock is being built. "In this particular case, we had so many students who were right on top of the school, that that pretty much takes care of the one school."

The Winterpock Elementary School boundary change will impact mainly students in Hampton Park. If approved, elementary students from that neighborhood would move to the new Winterpock Elementary School this fall. Nearby Clover Hill and Alberta Smith elementary schools will not be impacted by the change.

The Matoaca District has undergone massive residential development in recent years with more to come. Hampton Park alone sends about 550 elementary students to county schools. Another 2,392 homes are planned at Harper's Mill where Winterpock is located along with 4,886 homes that will be built over the next two decades in nearby Magnolia Green. Several smaller residential developments are also in the works.

Under the boundary proposal, all elementary students from Hampton Park would transfer to Winterpock. Currently, that community is split between Spring Run and Grange Hall.

The center-based gifted program at Grange Hall would also move to Winterpock.

The redistricting would provide relief from overcrowding at Spring Run and Grange Hall, which are currently 38 percent and 12 percent over capacity respectively. If the boundary change is adopted as proposed, projections for 2008 put 840 students at Spring Run, which has a functional capacity of 945, and 680 students at Grange Hall with a functional capacity of 830. About 775 students would attend Winterpock, which is being built to accommodate 875 students.

The proposal doesn't address crowded classrooms at Clover Hill and Alberta Smith, however, which are 18 percent and 11 percent over capacity respectively.

"Three of the five schools are under capacity for the short-term. Clover Hill and Alberta Smith remain at capacity or slightly over. We did not alleviate the overcapacity issue for the long-term because of rapid new growth in the area," explained Dawn Hicks, a committee member from Ashbrook.

When asked after the meeting if he was concerned that overcrowding at Clover Hill and Alberta Smith had not been addressed by the committee, school board member Marshall Trammell said, "We know this one school is not going to solve all of their problems, which means they're going to have to come back with another school. When you know that you're going to be coming back, then you try to look for solutions that are not going to doubly impact students."

The school board is already considering another bond referendum to fund new schools. That referendum would probably include building another elementary school at Magnolia Green.

However, another referendum is years away since the county probably couldn't secure funding again until 2012 without impacting its bond rating.

Doland doesn't anticipate that board members will make any major changes to the committee's proposal. "Based on the response I saw from the board, it seemed fairly supportive," he said.

Parents of students impacted by the boundary change will be notified this week. A public hearing has been scheduled for Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. at Cosby High School.

To learn more about the boundary proposal, visit www.chesterfield.k12.va.us.

Doland elected chairman

Doland was elected the new school board chairman for this year. Clover Hill representative Dianne Pettitt will serve as vice chair.

Trammell, the outgoing chairman, reflected briefly on his year of leading the board. "It has been challenging year. Did you notice how easily I passed that gavel over?" he joked.

In 2006, the school system hired a new superintendent and saw several changes on its board. Former Dale District representative Beth Davis passed away in June from cancer, leaving a vacancy that was filled temporarily by interim member Verena McCall before David Wyman was elected to the seat last November. Trammell also oversaw a redistricting of elementary schools in his district (Bermuda) and the completion of Cosby High School along with the beginning of construction on four new schools.

Spanish students fall behind

Several parents spoke before the board during the public comment period regarding Spanish classes at Chester Middle School.

According to reports, the school's Spanish teacher resigned in November last year, leaving students without a qualified instructor. Since then, students have fallen behind in their studies.

"We expect very soon to get a consistent, qualified substitute in that classroom. We don't want any more delays. We don't want any more excuses. Get off your butts and get something done," Chester Middle parent Teja Stokes urged the board, obviously frustrated.

Superintendent Marcus Newsome told the parents a retired Spanish teacher has been hired and will start work this week.

New school calendar

Board members received their first look at the proposed 2007-08 school calendar. If approved, students would attend school three fewer days than normal. Instead, those days would be used for staff development.

However, the superintendent is considering lengthening the school day to increase instructional time and give more flexibility in case of inclement weather.

Prior to adoption, students, parents and faculty will be surveyed on the proposed calendar. The results will be presented to the school board during its Feb. 13 meeting. The board is scheduled to vote on the calendar on Feb. 27.

To view the proposed calendar, visit www.chesterfield.k12.va.us.

Gymnasium named

The school board voted unanimously to name the Carver Middle School gym the "Alan J. Pruett Memorial Gymnasium," after a former assistant principal who passed away last July.

Pruett had served as assistant principal since 2002 and was also the school's athletic director. "On many afternoons in the fall and winter, Mr. Pruett could be found leaning against the wall in our gym watching a basketball game," recalled Principal Donald Ashburn.