Attendance line changes will affect approximately 75 students
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

"This is designed to help alleviate overcrowding at Northwest and B.D. Lee elementaries. It will probably add to the class sizes at Goucher Elementary." - Dr. Bill James, Cherokee County School District Superintendent

The Cherokee County School Board made minor changes in attendance lines Monday evening that will impact three elementary schools.

School trustees voted 8-1 to adjust school attendance lines along the Highway 29 corridor. The decision will impact students at Northwest, B.D. Lee and Goucher elementaries.

Board member Lindley Auton has lobbied to change the school attendance lines, citing overcrowded conditions at Northwest and B.D. Lee elementaries. A 6- classroom Goucher Elementary will provide additional space for students when it opens later this year.

"I would rather see kids attend Goucher Elementary than put them in an overcrowded school," Auton said.

Northwest Elementary is nearing capacity at the 470-student school. Officials have discussed placing mobile units at Northwest, where a 4-classroom addition opened in 2003.

Superintendent Dr. Bill James estimated a maximum of 75 students could be affected by the new attendance line changes.

"This is designed to help alleviate overcrowding at Northwest and B.D. Lee elementaries," James said. "It will probably add to the class sizes at Goucher Elementary."

The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in Washington gave the school board permission to alter the attendance zones. The ruling followed an extensive 18-month review where the OCR looked at how the changes would impact the area schools.

School trustee Willie Crosby was one board member that wasn't sold on the need for changes. He voted against the attendance line changes after being informed it would not substantially affect the minority student populations at B.D. Lee, Northwest and Goucher elementaries.

But district enrollment and school choice policies make it unclear how much the new changes will actually impact students.

District policy allows students to continue attending a school until they complete the highest grade.

At Monday's meeting, school trustees agreed to extend the deadline for student transfer requests until April 15 for students at B.D. Lee, Northwest and Goucher elementaries.

"With the limited enrollment policy, parents can request to send their child to any school," James said. "A parent must provide transportation for their child. There must be enough space in the school for the transfer request to be approved."