Price outlines two options for new elementary school
Dozens of parents from Evans and Martinez turned out for a public forum Tuesday to hear the two zoning options for a new elementary school on Mullikin Road.
On a large screen in the Riverside Middle School gymnasium, Columbia County Schools Superintendent Tommy Price showed the plans for the rezoning.
"These are the two options we think have the most merit," he said.
In both options, the new school will relieve Riverside Elementary, the county's most-populated elementary school.
The plans call for moving more than 350 pupils from Riverside Elementary to the new school.
Greenbrier Elementary will lose nearly 170 pupils in option one and almost 250 in option two.
In both options, most of the pupils will go to the new school and some will transfer to Riverside Elementary.
Stevens Creek Elementary loses the smallest number of pupils, about 40, in both options for the new school.
Price said neither option adequately relieves Stevens Creek Elementary.
"As the area continues to grow, we'll probably have to build another elementary school, probably on Blackstone Camp Road, to relieve Stevens Creek even more," he said.
Price assured parents that before- and after-school programs will be offered at the new school, just as they are at Riverside, Greenbrier and Stevens Creek elementary schools.
He also said, after an audience question, that the rezoning for the Mullikin Road elementary school won't affect the current zoning of middle schools.
Another parent wanted to know why the school system can't build bigger schools in advance of the growth.
Price answered by saying the state won't provide enough money.
"They don't give you advance funds for what they feel is the amount of growth," he said. "You've got to be bursting at the seams."
At the beginning of the meeting, Price said it was the 15th rezoning public forum he has attended during the past 22 years.
"I guess it's a testament to the amount of growth we've experienced in the county over those years," he said.
Unfortunately, school rezonings are often a result of growing pains, board member Wayne Bridges said.
"No one likes having to pick up and be moved, but you have to play the hand you're dealt with," Bridges said.
Price said his office will review questionnaires filled out by forum attendees before presenting a rezoning option for tentative approval to the school board on Tuesday at the Evans Government Complex auditorium.
If the board agrees with Price's recommendation, they might give final approval at the next meeting on Jan. 11 in Evans.
Where the Pupils will go by Road and Neighborhood
Areas affected by option one and two:
From Riverside Elementary to new school:
Mullikin and Conn roads area, including Bridlewood, Eagle Landing, Eagle Ridge, Eagle Trace, Hamilton Crossing/Village, Sumter Landing, River Bound, Hunter's Cove, Creekview Acres, Diamond Ridge Way and Jones Mill.
Furys Ferry Road area, including Three J Road from Mullikin Road to Hardy-McManus Road and from Southern Pines to Mullikin Road.
North Belair Road area, including Deerwood Acres, Deerwood Estates, Deerwood Circle, Fernbrook and One Marshall Place.
From Stevens Creek Elementary to new school:
Furys Ferry Road area north of Evans to Locks Road, including Jones Crossing, Jones Mill, Blackstone Camp Road, River Island, Sullivan Hartsfield and P&M Drive. Industrial Drive area, including Southern Pines, Bay Hill, Jones Creek Plantation, Jones Station, Legends Way, Cloister at Jones Creek and Southern Hills.
Option one only:
From Greenbrier Elementary to new school:
North Belair Road area, including Belair Woods, Northridge, Pierwood Place, Summerplace and Northwood.
From Greenbrier Elementary to Riverside Elementary:
Hardy-McManus Road addresses, including Highgrove at Williamsburg.
Option two only
From Greenbrier Elementary to new school:
North Belair Road area, including Belair Woods, Northridge, Pierwood Place, Summerplace and Northwood. Washington Road neighborhoods Chimney Hill, Faircloth Commons and Faircloth Landing.
From Greenbrier Elementary to Riverside Elementary:
Hardy-McManus Road addresses, including Highgrove at Williamsburg.
Washington Road neighborhoods Woodbridge, Silver Lake, and homes on Halali Farm and Cummings roads.