JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Duval County School Board voted Monday evening on rezoning proposals that affect future students at 17 schools. All the proposals passed.
The changes would go into effect for the 2015-2016 school year, but those currently attending won't have to change schools. Also, those with older siblings at a school will be grandfathered in and won't have to attend a different school than their siblings.
The changes would apply to kindergartners, sixth- and ninth-graders who will enroll in the affected schools next year.
The boundary changes were proposed because some schools are overcrowded and others don't have enough students.
MAPS: Proposed changes for Butler MS | Proposed changes for Stilwell MS
Here are the proposals that passed Monday:
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Seabreeze, Alimacani Elementary -- Revise the boundary for Seabreeze Elementary to relieve overcrowding. Boundary change will only impact incoming kindergarten students and students new to the area. No current Seabreeze students will be impacted and incoming kindergarten students with a sibling at Seabreeze may attend Seabreeze.
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Stilwell, Jeff Davis Middle -- Convert Stilwell Middle to a dedicated military leadership magnet school. All students currently in the Stilwell boundary will be rezoned for Jeff Davis Middle. Current Stilwell students will not have to reapply and students in the current Stilwell boundary will receive priority 1 status for the magnet program.
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Justina Road, Arlington, Arlington Heights, Lake Lucina, Ft. Caroline Elementary, GRASP, R.L. Brown Elementary -- Convert Justina Road Elementary to GRASP Academy. Current Justina students will be rezoned with transportation to Arlington, Arlington Heights, Lake Lucina, or Ft. Caroline. Students will also receive priority option for special transfer to other schools as well as the GRASP program if they meet the criteria for the program.
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Butler, Ribault Middle, Highlands, Northwestern Middle -- Convert Butler Middle to two dedicated single gender magnet schools. All students currently in the Butler boundary will be rezoned for either Ribault, Highlands, or Northwestern Middle. Current Butler students will not have to reapply and students in the current Butler boundary will receive priority 1 status for the magnet program.
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Sandalwood, Atlantic Coast High -- Revise the boundary for Sandalwood High to relieve overcrowding. Boundary change will only impact students in the new housing development still under construction. No current Sandalwood students will be impacted.
One of the most anticipated proposals at the school board meeting involved the rezoning of GRASP Choice Academy and Justina Road Elementary School.
Under the proposal, Justina Elementary would be converted to GRASP Academy -- a school that specializes in teaching students with dyslexia.
Because the proposal passed, current Justina students will be rezoned with transportation to Arlington, Arlington Heights, Lake Lucina, or Ft. Caroline. The board said that Justina Road Elementary's enrollment has declined by 231 students in the past few years.
Justina students will receive priority option for special transfer to other schools as well as the GRASP program, if they meet criteria.
Before the proposal passed -- a local mother said she would like to see GRASP rezoned and expanded.
"My daughter is a student, she's 9-years-old and she has been diagnosed with dyslexia. And she had the wonderful opportunity of being selected for the first year of GRASP. She has really changed and grown a lot through the first six months of the school, her grades have a shot up, she is now has increased self-esteem and she's just a happy bright kid like everybody else," said Tina Touchet.
Justina students will be moved to surrounding elementary schools within a 3-mile radius and GRASP students will move into Justina Road Elementary.
GRASP is currently operating out of R.L. Brown Elementary and doesn't have much space to work in.
The rezoning will allow GRASP to hold more students and expand from second through sixth grade to second through seventh grade.
Superintendent Nikolai Vitti told News4JAX he was pleased with the turnout in the meeting.
"These recommendations are never going to be fully supported by everyone, but ultimately it addresses many issues that I think we have not tackled as a district. One being overcrowding, two bringing in new and different innovative programs to the school district, and three being proactive with low-performing and low-enrolling schools," said Vitti.
Parents will have other options than going to the newly designated neighborhood school. They have until February 27 to apply for their child to get into a magnet school. They could also apply for a special transfer to a school that offers programs like dual languages, performing arts or marine sciences. That deadline is May 15.