Open enrollment is discussed

The school board presented the new policy to district parents.
By MIKE VAN CLEAVE
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
HUBBARD -- Hubbard schools have already received 42 applications for open enrollment "mostly from Youngstown and Brookfield students," said Robert Toth, board of education president.
A presentation of the new open enrollment policy, enacted by the school board in April, was given by the board Monday to ease the minds of parents who may be concerned about the effect that the policy will have on the quality of education.
Up to 150 children from outside of the school district will be allowed to attend Hubbard schools next year, and the board wanted parents to know that the quality of education will not go down as a result.
Toth said the board will monitor the number of pupils allowed in each grade level to assure that teachers do not become overburdened. If one class gets noticeably larger than other classes, the board will be more stringent in letting pupils from outside the district into that class, he said.
The deadline for open enrollment in Hubbard schools is May 14, and applications can be picked up at the board of education office in Reed Middle School.
Also on agenda
In other business, the Hubbard pool director and pool secretary lost their jobs after a long stint without a working pool. The pool has been closed since November and board members have yet to determine when it will open again.
The board opened negations Monday with labor unions that represent maintenance personnel to determine when the pool can be opened again.
Toth said the reopening of the pool is "all contingent on negotiations with the union." As soon as a contract can be agreed upon, the board can take steps to reopen the pool, he said.
A group of residents interested in building a wrestling facility were also involved in negotiations Monday. They brought a picture of what the building will look like when it is finished and tendered a request to the board that the facility be placed behind the high school, adjacent to the maintenance garage.
The group announced its plans to raise money for a wrestling facility in March after parents and coaches became fed up with students on the wrestling team having to practice late into the night because they have to share the gym with the basketball team.
Toth said the board has yet to decide whether the board will honor the group's request to build behind the high school.