Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
2010-2011 Elementary Attendance Lines
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Q - Why is Richland Two drawing new attendance lines for 2010-2011?
A- Richland Two is drawing new attendance lines in 2010-2011 because we have been experiencing unprecedented growth over the past decade. In the past five years alone, we’ve grown by over 4,500 students. In that same time, we have opened many new schools and had to draw new attendance lines in each of those instances. In August 2010, Richland Two will open the new Langford Elementary school. Opening Langford Elementary and drawing new attendance lines will reduce the student populations at several elementary schools. Of the schools impacted by the new attendance line changes, currently there are 15 portable classrooms in use at Lake Carolina Elementary, six at Round Top Elementary, two at Bethel-Hanberry Elementary, and six at Sandlapper Elementary School.
Q- Why is Richland two drawing new lines at Lake Carolina Elementary?
A - Lake Carolina Elementary currently has over 900 students while its capacity is 637. In order to reduce the reliance on portable classrooms (Cottages), some of the Lake Carolina students will be assigned to Bridge Creek. Bridge Creek Elementary is our newest elementary school and currently has about 450 students with a capacity of over 700.
Q - Why is the Centennial Neighborhood being assigned to a new school?
A - The Centennial Neighborhood, within the larger Lake Carolina Development is physically closer to Bridge Creek than Lake Carolina Elementary and has a direct transportation route down Summit Ridge to Bombing Range Road.
Q - Who will be the principals of Langford Elementary School and Bridge Creek Elementary school?
A - Current Bridge Creek Principal, Dr. Felix Figueroa, will move from Bridge Creek to Langford Elementary school. Mr. Arthur Newton, Assistant Principal at Lake Carolina Elementary will become Principal at Bridge Creek. Both will assume their new positions effective January, 2010.
Q - My child will be a rising 5th grader in 2010-2011. Can they stay at their current elementary school for their 5th grade year? What about their younger siblings?
A - Yes. Our practice is to allow rising 5th graders (and 8th and 12th) to remain at their current school (grand-fathered) in the event that attendance lines are changed. Please know that parents are responsible for transportation if they exercise this option. We also allow younger siblings to remain at their older sibling’s school for their older siblings 5th grade year. If the younger sibling(s) do not become rising 5th graders themselves the following year, then they will need to attend their residentially assigned school or apply to one of our Choice options (Expanded Choice or Magnet Programs).
Q - Why can’t all of the students be grand-fathered in at their current school?
A - The purpose of drawing new attendance lines is to relieve overcrowding at current schools, reduce dependence on portable classrooms, and to maximize the use of all of our facilities. If we allowed all current students to remain until they finish then schools would remain overcrowded while others are underutilized.
Q - I live in the Centennial Neighborhood in the Lake Carolina Development and pay Homeowner Association fees to Lake Carolina Development. Why has it been proposed that my home is no longer assigned to Lake Carolina Elementary?
A - The Lake Carolina Development and Lake Carolina Elementary are independent entities. No homeowner’s association (HOA) fees paid to Lake Carolina Development go to Lake Carolina Elementary or Richland Two schools. It was never intended that Lake Carolina Elementary school would always serve all of the residents of Lake Carolina development. There are over 1,000 more home sites approved in the Lake Carolina Development that have not yet been built. The size of the development is too large for a single elementary school. The new attendance lines keeps the entire Centennial Neighborhood together by assigning them to Bridge Creek Elementary.
Q- Is the Ashland Neighborhood zoned for Lake Carolina Elementary?
A- No. The Ashland Neighborhood within the Lake Carolina Development has never been assigned to Lake Carolina Elementary and there are no plans to assign students there in the future.
Q - I tried to look at the map online and could not get it to come up on my computer so I could see it legibly. Has this been fixed?
A - The map was placed on the district's Web page on Monday, September 28th. On Tuesday afternoon we were notified that one of the links to the map (the text link) resulted in an illegible display of the map. The link was adjusted and found to be working properly as of Wednesday, September 30 at 8:30 a.m. On Thursday we linked the maps directly to our main page under the headlines section. The map can be viewed and downloaded from this site. If you are having difficulty reading the map or if there is still a problem with a link to the map, please contact Mr. Will Anderson in the Planning Department at wanderson@richland2.org and he will assist you. Please also know that large printouts of the maps are on display in the lobby of all of the impacted schools and at the District Office.
Q – My child is currently in ALERT. Will my child's new school offer ALERT, other Related Arts programs, and the full services that are at the current school?
A – Yes. Bridge Creek and Langford Elementary schools will both have ALERT and other Related Arts programs. Additionally, these schools will be staffed similarly to your child’s current school and will have positions such as a school nurse and guidance counselor.
Q – Will Expanded Choice be open at the schools impacted by the change in lines?
A – The current plan is to allow all schools impacted by the change in attendance lines to be open for Expanded Choice. Please remember that Board Policy only allows for a net-gain of 20 students per school via the Expanded Choice option and that this is a random lottery selection process.
Q - Has the board of trustees already voted to approve the new attendance lines?
A- Yes. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the new attendance lines at its Oct. 13, 2009, meeting.