You can't do the redistricting without addressing what your facility needs are. If those needs aren't met, I expect you'll be changing plans for years to come, year after year. Blinson said he will urge the committee to come up with its own time line for finishing its task. The committee may want to start with Tomlinson Elementary so the school can open in the fall, then turn its attention to the rest of the county so wide-scale redistricting can start in the fall of 1998. A third phase could include the recommended attendance zones for when the county builds new schools, he said.
Board members say they like the idea of phasing in the redistricting plan over several years.
But they say they are concerned that the process has started under a cloud of confusion. I have a hard time thinking it will take 14 months. School board members said several members of the redistricting steering committee said they were surprised to learn that they may serve 14 months instead of the promised five. Board members said they have not heard from any committee members who plan to quit. Tomlinson has room for about 400 students, or the equivalent of 16 mobile classroom units.