Options considered for new high school transfers
Proposed boundaries for the new Weeki Wachee High School are almost complete as staff members also propose allowing parents to file for exemptions to their child transferring to the school.
During the Hernando County School District workshop slated for 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19 at the board office, board members will review a presentation about the new high school boundaries and review the rezoning maps for the high schools.
Jim Knight, director of student services, said he is also presenting an option for parents to opt out of their children attending the new school if they meet certain criteria that includes:
– Students are currently in the ROTC program at CHS or SHS or incoming ninth-graders who have completed a special attendance request and been approved for the ROTC program.
– Students are currently in the IB program or incoming ninth-graders who have completed a special attendance request and been approved for the IB program.
– Students are currently in the automotive program or incoming ninth-graders who have completed a special attendance request and been approved for the automotive program.
– Any ninth-grader who participated in an entire season (for the 2009-2010 school year) on a team sport that is not offered at Weeki Wachee High School as a varsity sport. The only varsity sports that will be offered at Weeki Wachee High School are tennis, golf, track, and swimming. All other sports offered are at the junior varsity level.
Knight said allowing the exemptions would also help staff provide an accurate number for attendance at Weeki Wachee. So far those numbers aren’t expected to be made available until the end of February.
In other business, board members are expected to:
– discuss the school staffing plan for the 2010-2011 school year to address class size in accordance with the state’s class size amendment. The measure is expected to impact the overall budget.
During the 7 p.m. board meeting, board members are expected to:
– Consider accepting a $ 77,340 bid for 10 driver training simulators, to Simulator Systems International. The simulators are used in the district’s high schools’ driver education program and provide interactive classroom driving instructions, live driving operation on varying road conditions, and traffic conditions that can be used by students and instructors.
– Consider approving pay for coaching, mentoring and other staff jobs.
Reporter Jeff Schmucker can be reached at 352-544-5271 or [email protected]
