BOE To Hold Public Hearing Thursday On Re-zoning

The Cannon County Board of Education will conduct a public hearing regarding the possible re-zoning of roads into the West Side School district, Thursday (July 21) from 6-to-7:30 p.m. at the Central Office.

Following the completion of the public hearing the Cannon County Board of Education will conduct a meeting at 7:45 p.m. in the same room to consider re-zoning road and/or lanes into the West Side School district.

Re-zoning would take roads currently zoned to Woodbury Grammar and move them into the West Side district. Students currently enrolled in Woodbury Grammer will have the option of remaining at the school even if the Board votes to re-zone.

Roads or lanes considered to be re-zoned into the West Side School district include: Old Hwy. 70 to the cemetery (west side); Lonesome Dove, Genia's Circle, Riverview, Jill Lane, Mockingbird Lane, Hoover Mill, Ralexi Lane, Bush Haven, Hollis Creek North, Dickens Hill to Frank Holt Road from Bradyville, Frank Holt Road and Riverbend.

Prior to 1990 most of these roads were zoned for West Side; but due to overcrowding issues at West Side, the zone was changed to incorporate these roads into the Woodbury Grammar School zone. In an effort to equalize school zones, the Board is considering re-zoning these roads to the West Side School zone.

"Out of all of these road there are only seven students that are actually going to their school of zone, Woodbury Grammar," Cannon County Director of Schools Barbara Parker said. "All the rest of the students (on these roads) are already transferred into West Side. We are looking at seven students (being rezoned) if this is approved and only two of those seven ride a bus to school."

The families of these seven students were expected to have letters hand delivered Monday to inform them of the hearing and the potential re-zoning, Parker said. The re-zoning will also make bus transportation safer for children on Dickens Hill Road.

Students on Dickens Hill Road currently walk down the street to catch the bus; however, the new zoning would have the bus come in front of their homes and pick students up at their driveway instead of having them walk.

Residents in these areas will have the opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns during the public hearing.

The Board of Education is expected to consider the East Side district next but that consideration appears to be well down the road and no re-zoning is expected for that district during the 2011-12 school year.