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Parents oppose Pasco school boundary changes

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By RONNIE BLAIR | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 3, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - A dozen parents and students expressed opposition today to proposed attendance boundaries for a new high school and elementary school, saying the Pasco County School Board needs to rethink the plan.

The board gave initial approval to the boundaries, but left open the possibility changes could be made when a second and final vote is taken Nov. 17. The board made no promises, though.

"Changing boundaries is one of the most contentious and highly personal things we consider on the board," board member Joanne Hurley said.

Three attendance boundary recommendations from three committees were before the board today.

Two of the proposals set boundaries for Fivay High School, under construction off State Road 52 in northwest Pasco, and the yet-to-be-named Elementary S, being built south of State Road 54 between Odessa and Trinity. Both schools are to open in August.

The third proposal, which drew no comments, makes changes to middle school boundaries in west Pasco. Those changes are being made to improve feeder patterns and better balance the school populations.

Most of the complaints today dealt with two issues.

Suncoast Lakes, a neighborhood south of S.R. 52, would be rezoned from River Ridge High, a C school, to Hudson High, a D school, with the opening of Fivay High. Residents say they want the students to remain at River Ridge.

Also, parents from Oakstead Elementary said their crowded school isn't getting enough relief with the opening of Elementary S. They want the board to better balance the student populations of the schools that will be sending students to Elementary S. The other schools are Trinity Elementary and Longleaf Elementary.

Laura Cole, a Suncoast Lakes resident, gave the board a petition with 330 signatures of people opposed to the rezoning of their neighborhood to Hudson High.

Some parents said the reason they bought houses in Suncoast Lakes is because the neighborhood is zoned for River Ridge.

One reason the boundary committee gave for rezoning the neighborhood for Hudson High is that children in Suncoast Lakes attend Crews Lake Middle. Most Crews Lake Middle students move on to Hudson High.

Dennis Hertog of Suncoast Lakes dismissed that idea. He said there's no evidence that feeder patterns – the way students move from elementary to middle to high school -- make a difference. The question that should be asked, Hertog said, is whether the move is in the best interests of the students.

"We firmly believe it is not in their best interests," Hertog said.

Meanwhile, Oakstead Elementary parents expressed disappointment that their school could remain more than 200 students over its capacity of 762, even after Elementary S opens. Oakstead now has 1,035 students.

"We really thought this elementary would relieve us of that," parent Sally Miller said.

She and others said there needs to be better balance among Oakstead, Longleaf, Trinity and Elementary S. Under the proposal, Longleaf and Trinity would be about 100 or more students below capacity. Elementary S, being built for 762 students, would be right at capacity.

"Clearly there is a situation there that is not optimal," said Christopher Ayoub, another Oakstead parent.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 259-7065.

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