Additional 200 students loom on district's horizon
HUDSON - Although the unofficial enrollment of the city school district is down this year — from 5,602 to 5,517 — the specter of more than 200 additional students is looming on the horizon, according to the superintendent.
Wolowiec told the Board Monday that plans are moving forward for the housing on property which was formerly occupied by Tamsin Park.
She said the district was notified in September that the Hidden Lakes development was in the hands of the Cuyahoga Falls Planning Commission. The proposed development is in Cuyahoga Falls but is part of the Hudson City School District.
Developers say the Hidden Lakes project will have 244 homes — 147 cluster type and 97 townhouses.
"According to our ratio, that's about 200 more students for our district," she said.
This year's enrollment does not become official until March 18, due to regulations of the Ohio Department of Education, according to Wolowiec.
"What if we refuse to take them?" Board member Bruce Hubach asked.
Wolowiec said that was not an option. She said she had spoken with representatives of the Woodridge Local Schools, a contiguous district, about taking the students.
"They're filled. They have no room for more children. They can't afford to do any redistricting at this time," she reported.
Hubach suggested that since the development was in Cuyahoga Falls, the Cuyahoga Falls School District should take the students.
Wolowiec explained the boundaries of the Falls schools were not contiguous to the development so the district is not allowed by state law to take those students.
Board president Andrew Duff asked when the state was going to "straighten out these historical school boundaries that don't make any sense?"
Wolowiec said the school district boundaries were drawn in the 1800s and are not the boundaries of today's political entities.
"The bottom line is," said Board member James Antes, "we have no say."
Wolowiec said the enrollment numbers were down "mainly in kindergarten."
She said although enrollment is down, space is still at a premium in the district. "We need space," she said. "We literally have students being tutored in closets."
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