Marion school board discusses moving former Evergreen students to Oak Crest; asks staff for more academic data and community outreach

The Marion County School Board heard staff briefings Feb. 24 on a proposal to reassign students from the former Evergreen attendance area into Oak Crest Elementary to reduce long bus rides and to balance enrollment.

Staff described the proposal as one of several scenarios included in a spreadsheet prepared at the board’s request; that document estimated seat availability at Oak Crest and the potential number of additional seats needed if the Evergreen auxiliary zones were shifted. "This is what is best for students," Board Member Dr. James said during the discussion, adding that shorter bus trips could improve transportation overall.

The board’s presentation explained that Oak Crest currently has capacity and that, depending on which students are reassigned, the school could absorb more students without immediate construction. Transportation staff estimated route changes might add one to two additional bus runs in a worst-case scenario and noted that timing for special-education (ESE) routes would need separate planning. Transportation staff provided a driver-cost estimate of about $25,000 per year plus roughly $3,600 in fuel per run and said a two-run worst case could cost about $57,200 annually.

Board members and staff repeatedly emphasized that the item presented on Feb. 24 was informational and that the board had not taken formal action. Chair Conrad asked staff to return with more academic data and a recommended public-engagement plan. "I would like to discuss this one and then we'll kind of move on to the next one," Dr. James told staff; later, Dr. Gullett (the superintendent) agreed to compile the requested academic measures.

Why the board says it matters: Board members framed the proposal as an effort to put students closer to neighborhood schools and reduce long bus rides, particularly for ESE students. Reverend Cummings and other board members repeatedly raised student time on buses as a primary concern. "My focus is gonna be the length of time traveling to school for the day," Reverend Cummings said during the discussion.

What the board asked staff to do next: Members requested a follow-up report with up-to-date academic monitoring data for Oak Crest (progress-monitoring and recent ELA/mathematics trends), clearer transportation-route modeling including ESE routes, and a plan for community meetings before any rezoning decisions. Several members recommended postponing any enrollment changes for the 2025–26 school year and considering a timeline that would allow more data collection and community engagement for planning for 2026–27.

Context and public response: Board members noted Oak Crest narrowly missed a higher school grade in recent state reporting and recognized the principal and staff’s ongoing improvement efforts. The board and superintendent referenced prior rezoning actions related to Evergreen Elementary: some Evergreen-zoned students were reassigned in previous years and currently attend schools a substantial distance from their homes (Shady Hill, Ward Highlands, College Park). Staff said a small cohort of students who were rezoned earlier (third through fifth graders) remain in their current placements and would be tracked separately in any new plan.

The board did not vote on rezoning at the Feb. 24 meeting. Members said public meetings will be scheduled as part of the next steps so families and local stakeholders can comment before the board considers any formal rule-making or vote.

Ending: Board Chair Conrad closed discussion by asking staff to schedule community sessions and to return with the academic and transportation details the board requested. Board members expressed a mix of urgency to reduce bus time and caution to avoid moving students while testing and academic monitoring are ongoing.