WEBSTER CO., KY (WFIE) -
Webster County Officials have decided where students from Slaughters Elementary will go to school next year. The school is being closed due to budget cuts from the state.
Students from Slaughters will either go to Dixon or Sebree Elementary, but this redistricting plan will also affect students from other parts of the county.
Next year, about 160 students from Slaughters will be on the move.
Families that live North of the railroad tracks near Slaughters will go to Sebree, south of the tracks will head to Dixon, something some parents aren't too thrilled about.
"Most of the slaughters area on the right side of the railroad tracks are going to have to come to Dixon and that's a 12 mile ride," said parent Shari Crowley.
Assistant Superintendent Riley Ramsey says they had to consider maintaining class sizes no bigger than 28 kids.
"If you put every child into one particular school, well then obviously their class sizes would be horrendously high and then another school would be very low," Ramsey said.
Clay and Providence will see changes too.
Families south of Highway 983 and North of Diamond Green Grove and Bill Dorris Road will go to Clay, and those south of Highway 270 will go to Providence.
Then obviously, looking at fuel economy, the most efficient route for buses,' Ramsey told 14 News.
Some parents have questioned the cutoff lines for the new re-districting plan, and say it makes sense to go to the school closer to their home.
"When you have your kindergarten children that's young, to have to go that far," Crowley said.
"I understand the geographical location and what they're talking about, but we had to look at numbers. It goes back to the enrollment and the square footage of the building," said instructional supervisor Kim Saalwaechter.
Board members say it wasn't easy closing Slaughters, they're just looking towards the future generations of students in Webster County.
"I want to make sure that the students in the district at that time and beyond are ready for the challenges of the world," Saalwaechter said.
Again, these changes will take affect this Fall and the board says they plan to send out a letter clarifying all the changes in the near future.
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