School boundaries up for debate in Campbell County

Growth in the Brookville and Rustburg areas of Campbell County could mean changes to where almost 200 students attend school.

With Tomahawk Elementary School at capacity and a multi-million-dollar renovation-expansion project under way at Concord Elementary, Campbell County Schools officials say now is the time to modify attendance boundaries.

Changes were initially discussed in September; since then, school administration has studied the issue. Proposed boundary revisions were presented to the school board on March 16 that would shift nearly 200 elementary students to different schools.

“We’re finishing the new facility at Concord and we need to send more kids out there to make use of that facility,” Superintendent George Nolley said. “In Brookville, we’re trying to relieve overcrowding at Tomahawk.”

The school board is expected to take up the issue at Monday’s meeting, although it is uncertain whether changes will be approved then. There is a ticking clock, though, as changes would take effect this fall, Nolley said.

“I hope they get the show on the road because it has budget implications,” he said of the board.

For example, moving 21 students from Concord to the smaller Gladys Elementary School will make per-pupil operations cheaper.

The proposal would move the most students, 75, from Rustburg Elementary to Concord Elementary. Also, 67 students would move from the crowded Tomahawk Elementary to Leesville Road Elementary.

Nolley said he hasn’t received much feedback from parents. The matter was discussed at a school board meeting, and Nolley said individual schools were notified of the possible changes.

“We’ve heard very little,” he said. “The only group of parents we’ve heard anything from is a group in Leesville Road, on Lawyers Road perhaps, and they would be changed to send them to Yellow Branch.”

While feedback has been limited, three people spoke at the board meeting where modifications were presented. They urged careful consideration.

Concord resident William Gage told the board that under the proposal he would be in the Gladys zone, but Concord Elementary is much closer. Leesville parent Lucy Breeden said her students were moved during the last change and asked board members to closely look at the proposals.

The division adjusted boundaries in the Yellow Branch area in 2006, shortly after renovations on that school were completed. Nolley said it’s time to redraw lines again, particularly because growth in the area is cyclical.

“Part of it is caused by subdivisions that turn over every 25 years, because after a 25-year period you have empty-nesters wanting to move out and other people moving in wanting to have kids,” Nolley said, referring to some neighborhoods in the Tomahawk Elementary area.

Campbell County School Board Chairman Leon Brandt, who represents some of the schools in the proposal, said he’s received one call about the changes. He said he’s not sure what turnout will be like at Monday’s meeting.

“We’ll certainly listen to what people have to say and come up with the best that we can,” he said, adding he couldn’t say whether or not changes will be OK’d Monday. “We’ve got overcrowding in a few schools and construction at Concord; we’ve got do what’s best for kids.”

Concord’s $13.7 million renovation and addition project is nearing the home stretch. It’s slated to double the school’s space and will be complete by fall. The school’s fifth grade, currently housed at Rustburg Middle, is scheduled to move back to the school then.

The current boundary proposal has Concord gaining 122 students, which includes its fifth grade of about 72 students. Under the proposal all the elementary schools would gain students with the exception of Rustburg and Tomahawk.

At Tomahawk, principal Donna Brown said changes to attendance zones are difficult, but her school is experiencing obstacles because of enrollment.

“It’s presenting challenges. We’re making due with what we have,” she said, adding that a storage room has been converted to classroom space. “We just don’t have adequate room.”

Brown said her school, which has an enrollment of 722 students, is running out of space.

“I love what I do and I love the children and you hate to see anyone go, but when numbers are high like this you want to provide the best quality education you can for your children,” she said.

Here is a list of which streets will be affected:
21 Concord Elementary students will move to Gladys Elementary
- Spring Mill Road from the intersection of Spring Mill and Bent Creek to Round Tree Road
- Mudd Street
- Riverview Lane
- Mill Pond Lane
- Falling Spring Drive
- Bent Creek Road

75 Rustburg Elementary students will move to Concord Elementary
- Village Highway from Bear Creek Road to Oxford Furnace Road
- Mountain Drive
- Harbor Drive
- Harveys Lane
- Ivanhoe Trail
- Morton Creek
- Warner Road
- Bear Creek Road from Village Highway to Red House Road
- Somerset Place
- Wheeler Road
- Pebble Road
- Morning Glory Lane
- Galloway Drive
- Schilling Court
- Red Oak School Road
- Bethany Road from Bear Creek Road to New Chapel Road
- Watkins Farm Road
- Hardwood Trail
- Wildlife Drive
- Century Oak Road
- Cardwell Home Place
- New Chapel Road from Bear Creek to Bethany Road
- Kings Grant Road
- Carwil Road
- Cyrus Road
- Stonelonesome Road
- Marshall Circle

15 Yellow Branch Elementary students will move to Rustburg Elementary
- Martin Street and Camp Hydaway Road
- Chinook Drive
- Pastime Lane
- Clysdale Drive
- Concrete Drive
- Quiet Hills Drive
- Lakefront Drive
- Reynolds Drive
- Bragg Avenue

14 Rustburg Elementary students will move to Yellow Branch Elementary
- Kirkland Street
- Cerillo Lane
- Dove Drive
- Chinkapin Road
- Dunivan Drive
- Liberty Village

67 Tomahawk Elementary students will move to Leesville Road Elementary
- Alum Springs Road
- Sandy Acres
- Point Drive
- Blue Drive
- Fowler Street
- Gordon Drive
- Carters Crossing
- Caperton Way
- Town Fork Road
- Cresthaven Terrace
- Crestside Drive
- Barnside Road
- Bison Drive
- Big Horn Drive
- London Terrace

23 Leesville Road Elementary students will move to Yellow Branch Elementary
- Lawyers Road from Route 29 south to Leesville Road
- Winebarger Circle
- Overton Drive
- Missionary Manor
- Cooks Branch Road
- Springfield Road
- Doe Run Lane
- Roundabout Hill
- Wahoo Court
- Plain Ridge Drive

Source: Campbell County Schools