As a result, the plan did not adequately address some parents' concerns when it first started. Smith, who grew up attending St. Lucie schools, was a middle school principal when the county's controlled choice plan was phased into the system during the 1990-91 school year. However, St. Lucie County neighborhoods are not sufficiently integrated to eliminate the need to bus children to achieve an acceptable racial mix. She said St. Lucie parents are more apt shop around for a school that has specific programs to meet their child's needs. In return, schools market themselves to parents and continually work to improve their programs.
Some parents choose a school because it is closer to the father's or mother's office.
If a first-choice school is further from home, sometimes it works to the advantage of a working parent or a babysitter by giving them additional time before the child is dropped off at home, Smith said. She also thinks that parents are more satisfied with the system because it promotes stability for children, parental involvement, and friendly competition among schools. When children can remain in the same school, student achievement is destined to improve, she said. She urges parents to attend Manatee County's public information meetings in April, or to call the district's student accounting department, to gain first-hand knowledge about controlled choice. She also encourages Manatee County school officials to think of innovative ways to reach isolated families, those without a television, telephone, or newspaper subscription.