Seminole set to start rezoning for schools

SANFORD — Three committees of parents and school officials next week will begin the controversial process of redrawing attendance zones for 28 of Seminole County’s 36 elementary schools.

More than 20,000 students are enrolled at those schools, and thousands could be heading to different schools next fall.

Officials aim to balance enrollments between schools that are overcrowded and those with empty seats, and possibly reduce their expenses in the process.

But parents already are becoming alarmed at the prospect of their children being assigned to different schools.

“I amactually drafting a petition right now for my neighborhood in case our subdivision is one to rezone,” said Beth Johnson, who lives in Lost Creek in south central Seminole and has a child at Red Bug Elementary where she is a member of the School Advisory Council.

Johnson said her biggest concern is that the neighborhood will be rezoned to Eastbrook Elementary, which is nearer than Red Bug. That school has more low-income students, and Johnson and some neighbors fear a switch would reduce the value of their homes.

She is also worried her son might not get as good an education at Eastbrook.

Hundreds of such concerns are expected as the school district struggles through the process that culminates in April when the School Board sets new attendance zones.

First, the new zones must be hammered out, and Monday evening a committee considering North Phase schools will begin the task. Schools up for rezoning have been divided into three geographical areas to ease the process, with a committee for each expected to meet several times in coming weeks.

Deputy Superintendent George Kosmac, who is leading the rezoning, said the committees will develop attendancezone plans for Superintendent Walt Griffin to consider in making his zone recommendations to the School Board.

The first North Phase committee meeting is set for 6 p.m. Monday at the school district office in Sanford. The 11 elementary schools in the group are Bentley, Crystal Lake, Heathrow, Highlands, Idyllwilde, Lake Mary, Layer, Wicklow, Wilson, Winter Springs and Woodlands.

The committee for the East Phase of rezoning will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Winter Springs High School. The dozen elementary schools in the group are Carillon, Eastbrook, Evans, Geneva, Keith, Lawton, Partin, Rainbow, Red Bug, Stenstrom, Sterling Park and Walker.

The committee considering changes for the West Phase will meet Thursday at 6 p.m. at Lake Brantley High School. Bear Lake, Forest City, Spring Lake and Wekiva elementary schools are in that group, and Kosmac said Sabal Point has been added as well.