For the first time in five years, school choice will be open in the Smyrna School District, but only at the lower elementary levels.
Given the slowdown in the district’s population growth, the Smyrna School Board voted unanimously on Jan. 25 to open school choice in kindergarten through second grade for the 2010-11 school year.
This decision opens the way for children who live outside the geographical boundaries of the Smyrna School District to make requests to attend Smyrna schools.
The administration and school board members discussed the issue at the board’s work session prior to the regular meeting.
“We have maintained closed school choice because of the growth, which has slowed down the past two years,” said Assistant Superintendent Buddy Lloyd.
“I’m in favor of opening choice for our lower elementary, because we have the space,” said Board Member Ron Eby.
If necessary, the district could go back and close school choice at some point down the line, he added.
The reason school choice will only be open for kindergarten, first grade and second grade has to do with where space is available.
Lloyd explained that Sunnyside Elementary School, North Smyrna Elementary School, and possibly Smyrna Elementary School have room for additional students, but Smyrna High School, Smyrna Middle School and John Bassett Moore Intermediate are presently full. Ninth graders are attending class at the middle school as construction continues at the high school.
To avoid overcrowding at JBM, school choice will not be open for third and fourth graders, who would move on to that school after a year or two.
But the district will take school choice requests for second graders and below, in the anticipation that the planned Clayton Intermediate School will be ready by the time those students are ready to move up to the intermediate school level in three years.
Although school choice has been closed over the past five years, students who fall under certain exceptions have been allowed to choice into Smyrna. These exceptions include students whose parents work for district, families who have a contract to buy or build a home, and students whose siblings attend school in the district.
New sports teams, marketing ideas proposed
During the board’s work session on Jan. 25, Smyrna Athletic Director Bill Schultz presented the board with proposals for additional school sports teams, as well as new marketing strategies and revenue streams.
The new sports proposed were: freshman football, freshman girls’ and boys’ basketball, varsity lacrosse, and middle school track and field.
Ideas for new revenue streams included business banners at sporting venues, game night sponsorships and scoreboard sponsorships.
These proposals will be on the agenda for the next school board meeting, scheduled for Feb. 17 at Smyrna Middle School.
