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New Bozeman school attendence bounderies a work in progress

Posted: Jan 30, 2013 5:40 PM by Judy Slate

Bozeman's 8th elementary school is slated to open next year. What hasn't been decided is who will attend the new school.

An advisory committee has made several recomendations, but doesn't have a final recomendation for new bounderies. They have recommended that there be no grandfather clause for elementary kids. That means if their attendance area changes, they'll have to move to a new school.

Parents can request and out of attendance area school for their child. If that is granted, they can attend the school for a year and then have to re-apply. They could also get booted back to their own attendence area school if their spot is need by a child who lives in the attendence area.

5th graders will also be given priority to stay where they are for their finall year of elementary school.

Deputy Superintendet Steve Johnson realizes the District cannot make everyone happy. "And the fact of the matter is, all of our school are good school. We have great teachers, great administrators, we have great parents in all of our school. said Deputy Superintendent Steve Johnson.

The committe is also recommending a change to the middle school bounderies. They are recommending that if Love lane extended south of Huffine, all of the children who live west of this imaginary boundery will go to Sacajawea. Right now everyone south of Main and Huffine attends Sacajawea and everyone to the north attends Chief Joseph. However, all children who started in Sacajawea can finish there.

Next week, school district officials will meet with parents in a series of meeting in the elementary schools.

Nats - construction.

THE BIGGEST RECOMMENDATIONS REVOLVE AROUND THE NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BEING BUILT AT THE CORNER OF DURSTON AND FLANDERS MILL

Nats

THE DISTRICT WILL LIKELY REDRAW LINES THAT COULD AFFECT MOST SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AREAS, CONSIDERING THINS LIKE FUTURE GROWTH AND.

Steve Johnson.. - the other issue that we have to consider is socio economic status."

IN OTHER WORDS ACHIEVING AN EQUAL BALANCE BETWEEN HIGHER AND LOWER INCOME FAMILIES.

NATS --

NO DEFINITIVE PLANS HAVE BEEN DRAWN... BUT THE committee DID DECIDE THAT NO CHILDREN WILL BE GRANDFATHERED WHEN THE NEW LIINES ARE DRAWN.. SO MANY CHILDREN MAY BE FORCE TO CHANGE SCHOOLS. HOWEVER.

"people will have the choice to request out of attendence area schools. If granted in will last a year"

JUDY -- BUT IF SOMEONE MOVES INTO THAT ATTENDENCE AREA YOU COULD LOSE YOUR SPOT. ALSO 5TH GRADERS WILL BE AT THE TOP PF THE PRIORITY LIST TO STAY IN THEIR SCHOOL FOR THEIR FINALL YEAR OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

Nats --

ONE THIN DEPUTYT SUPERINTENDENT JOHNSON KNOWS OF THIS PROCESS....

"There s no way to make everyone happy.' "the fact is that all bozeman school are good, great teachers.. Great parents in all schools.

IN BOZEMAN JUDY SLATE MTN NEWS.>

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The next step, the committee will like come up with 3 plans for redrawing attendence areas.
They'll then meet with parents in the school beginning next week to get feedback.
One note regarding the changes to the middle school bounderies. If they go into effect... Those kids who started at Sacajawea or CJ...will finish there.