The Denton school board unanimously approved the rezoning of about 90 students in the Country Lakes development from E.P. Rayzor Elementary School to Ryan Elementary School beginning in the 2012-13 school year.
The boundary change also gives families in the Country Lakes development the option for their middle school children to attend McMath or Harpool middle schools next fall with transportation provided by the district. IN OTHER ACTION
Also at Tuesday's board meeting:• Board members received an update of recommended legal policies as a result of the last legislative session. Policy content included a reduction in force as a result of financial exigency and reduction in force as a result of program changes. Over the next few weeks, board members will have a first and second reading of the policies and vote on their adoption after the second reading.• The 2012-13 high school course catalog and planning guide was shared with board members. The board heard about changes made to the guide since it was published for the 2011-12 school year.
Board members Tuesday said they were pleased with the democratic approach, including public input, that helped them reach the decision.
"Once again our community meetings have proved to be very beneficial, and I think it just shows the collaboration between the district and parents to work together to make these decisions for our students," board president Mia Price said after the vote. "I think the board was very pleased to include the middle school option for Country Lakes, and that came directly from the parents."
At a Dec. 13 meeting, parents from Country Lakes expressed concern about their children's graduation through middle school and high school and whether those children would attend high school with the friends made at the middle school level. Parents also brought the same concern and others before district officials at public meetings on the proposed boundary conducted Nov. 29 and Dec. 1.
Denton High School teacher Julie Seely, who spoke before the board Dec. 13 as a mother living in the Country Lakes area, said Wednesday she was pleased with the vote.
"I appreciate that the school board listened to our input, and I am optimistic that this change will give our children a clear path to high school," she said.
Augustina Cherms, who shared her concerns with the district at public meetings and the Dec. 13 board meeting, said Wednesday she was glad that parents' voices were heard.
"The fact that they took that into consideration … just tells me that they listened and tried to accommodate some of our concerns," she said.
It was a tough situation proposing the new attendance boundary, but district officials did a good job laying out the issue, she said.
It's unfortunate that Country Lakes students, beginning next year, will no longer attend E.P. Rayzor Elementary, Cherms said. But she said she's hopeful residents in the development will look at the new attendance boundary not as a setback but a good opportunity for the community.
The new elementary boundary and 2012-13 middle school option impacts students whose homes are primarily bordered by Interstate 35W to the west, Johnson Lane to the north, U.S. Highway 377 to the east and Crawford Road to the south.
The new zone also includes a section northwest of Johnson Lane.
District officials have said the boundary change will alleviate overcrowding and balance the student population at E.P. Rayzor Elementary.
BRITNEY TABOR can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is btabor@dentonrc.com .
IN OTHER ACTION
Also at Tuesday's board meeting:
• Board members received an update of recommended legal policies as a result of the last legislative session. Policy content included a reduction in force as a result of financial exigency and reduction in force as a result of program changes. Over the next few weeks, board members will have a first and second reading of the policies and vote on their adoption after the second reading.
• The 2012-13 high school course catalog and planning guide was shared with board members. The board heard about changes made to the guide since it was published for the 2011-12 school year.
