Tuesday, November 28, 2006
The family of the late Annie Lee donated 2,747 to the school district.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HOWLAND -- The board of education is discussing a possible change in its open enrollment policy.
Superintendent John Rubesich said during Monday's board meeting that under current policy, pupils who enter the district through open enrollment and later move to another district outside Howland cannot remain in Howland schools. This does not apply to seniors; they are permitted to remain at Howland to graduate.
However, Rubesich explained, there are about 10 open-enrollment pupils who leave annually because their parents move out of the district because of work or because the pupils move to live with their parents.
The suggested change in policy would enable these pupils to remain in Howland schools. No action was taken on the proposal.
The district is in its third year of open enrollment and has about 95 pupils who live outside the district attending classes at Howland. About half of the 95 pupils live in Warren, Rubesich said.
The superintendent said the district receives about 300 applications per year from the parents of pupils who live in other districts but want to attend school here.
Gauging support for project
Also during the meeting, Rubesich said that residents will be surveyed after the first of the year to determine if they would support borrowing money through a bond issue to build a new high school and renovate other buildings.
If there is a lack of public support, he explained, the district won't pursue new construction but rather will renovate buildings.
He pointed out that the initial portion of the high school was constructed in 1949 and H.C. Mines and North Road intermediate schools are using trailers as classrooms.
According to a 2002 report from the Ohio School Facilities Commission, Rubesich explained, the cost of building a new high school was estimated at 21 million while renovating it would cost about 26 million.
The board meeting was held at Howland Springs Elementary School. Rubesich told parents of the pupils attending the school that it's not too early to begin thinking about their children's college education.
He encouraged them to attend "college night" at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the high school media center.
Rubesich explained that they will be able to talk with representatives of colleges and universities.
Lee family donation
In other business, the board accepted a 2,747 donation from the family of Annie Lee. The family received the money from individual donations in memory of Annie.
Rubesich said the money may be used for the district scholarship foundation.
Annie was run down in a 2004 accident at U.S. Route 422 and North Road, leaving her a quadriplegic at age 11. She died in October in Cleveland while being treated for a brain infection.
On Nov. 8, Irving Russ, 32, of Warren was found guilty by a Trumbull County Common Pleas Court jury of being the driver, leaving the scene of an accident and tampering with evidence. He awaits sentencing.
yovich@vindy.com