For the past three months, folks around the county worked with consultants to ensure the district’s school assignment lines are rightly redrawn.

The possible “redistricting” options will be presented Tuesday in a public forum/community discussion at 6 p.m. in the Mid-Carolina High School cafeteria.

The options only affect elementary schools already in the Mid-Carolina area.

District boundaries could shift a bit for Prosperity-Rikard, Little Mountain and Pomaria-Garmany elementary schools, but all three schools will still “feed” into Mid-Carolina Middle School.

There are no redistricting plans for the three schools that feed Newberry Middle School, says Suber.

“Options are under consideration for redrawing elementary attendance lines in the Mid-Carolina feeder area only,” he says. “No middle school or high school attendance lines will be redrawn.”

The school district hopes to fully utilize the additional space opened up by new construction.

Even with portables, Prosperity-Rikard Elementary School is currently overcrowded and Little Mountain Elementary is being expanded yet again.

As the district nears completion of new additions at Little Mountain and Pomaria-Garmany elementaries, it’s necessary to review attendance lines to better balance enrollment in Mid-Carolina area elementary schools, says Suber.

“The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss potential redistricting options for the school district,” says Suber.

The Redistricting Committee, made up of a group of parents, school representatives, business leaders, clergy and community members, has worked with professional demographic researchers for the past three months to find redistricting options.

Guiding their work, the two groups used data like demographic studies and 10-year enrollment forecasts. They also considered the district’s building program and redistricting guidelines set by school board members.

After getting the community’s response at the forum, the committee will review feedback and make a recommendation for the school board.

The redistricting recommendation will be presented to the school board on June 22 during the regularly scheduled board meeting.

The board plans to vote on the recommendation during its July 27 board meeting.

No redistricting changes will happen until the 2010-2011 school year.

“The primary purpose of the community forum is to seek valuable input from the community on which redistricting option they prefer,” says Suber. “The School District of Newberry County values your input and encourages interested parents and community members to attend the May 12 forum.”