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E-mail This StoryIn the first regular board meeting since the trio of packed — and sometimes politely contentious — attendance zones meetings, the trustees asked for the zoning proposal’s designer to go back to the drawing board.
Voicing concerns about the impact of possible future elementary schools, reducing overall bussing, and reducing the number of moves children would have to make, Allen ISD Board President Victoria Sublette requested Dr. David Vroonland, AISD assistant superintendent of schools, to come up with another proposal.
“I would need to see it before I can feel comfortable with this,” she said.
Vroonland said his proposal tried to factor in the proximity of the subdivisions —represented by locator blocks on the draft — to the schools, although he admitted it was not perfect. “Islands” of school children, divided from other neighborhoods, would have to be bussed no matter what the final proposal.
Sublette seemed to echo some of the concerns of parents in the Lost Creek Ranch subdivision when she asked why children of two neighborhoods were going to be bused when one could walk to the school that is in their community.
“We do have a history of busing across zones,” she said. “No one from Spring Meadow or Reid Farm is walking to Marion [Elementary School].”
Sublette also wanted to see the next proposal reflect the possible placement of elementary schools 17 and 18 to give her a feel of how they could reduce the number of school moves children in certain neighborhoods might have to make.
“I like to see us minimize the student moves,” she said, noting that it could impact what elementary campus was built first.
Before the discussion on the original draft of the new school boundaries began, Dr. Ken Helvey, AISD superintendent, reminded the board members of the difficulty in drawing new zones and the steps AISD has taken to be inclusive of the city and its citizens.
Those attending the meeting also may have noticed a pamphlet explaining school board meeting procedures. But for those who did not, Sublette took a moment and asked them to not applaud again during the meeting.
“I know you all are passionate about this, but I’m going to take a moment and ask you to let the board have the conversation,” she said.
Trustee for Place 6 Louise Master said she was concerned about the safety of children walking to the new elementary at Angel and Exchange parkways.
Vroonland said this would not be a concern since the daycare that was to be built on the school’s side of the street was no longer going to be there.
Sublette also expressed concern about safety, remarking that she had asked about a crossing guard at the intersection of Glendover and Alma during rezoning meeting three years ago and it “had bugged her ever since.”
During earlier discussion about the demographic study used in projecting the growth areas in the district, Sublette expressed concerns some of the demographic data presented might not be what she would anticipate in terms of the growth — or non-growth — in certain areas.
She also asked for a map that showed in either locator blocks or geo codes what Vroonland saw as the most likely growth in the sections.
Vroonland expressed doubts about where Elementary No. 17, which was at one time proposed in the Waterford Parks subdivision, would finally be located and which middle school its students would attend.
“We may have to move away from the feeder school philosophy for this one school or look at buying land north of Stacy Road,” he said.
Near the end of the zoning discussions, Helvey noted the different factors would be considered before the final draft was approved.
“Change is inevitable, but transition is negotiable,” he said.
To comment on this story, visit www.scntx.com. Contact Troy Brakefield at tbrakefield@acnpapers.com.
