Board approves Reedy Laurel Elementary assignment plan, rezones about 900 students and eliminates enrollment ‘islands’

The Greenville County Schools committee approved a recommended student assignment plan that creates Reedy Laurel Elementary and reassigns students across multiple attendance areas.

Greg Stanfield, planning and demographics, told the board the redistricting process began in early September and concluded public comment on Sept. 24. He said the proposed new Reedy Laurel boundary (proposed address 6061 Isbell Lane) would affect approximately 900 students district‑wide, with about 600 primarily reassigned to Reedy Laurel and about 300 students experiencing other boundary changes. Stanfield said the plan eliminates roughly 19 small enrollment "islands" and involves 25 schools across elementary, middle and high levels.

Board members asked detailed questions about feeder patterns, specific neighborhoods and map details. Mrs. Goodwin Caldwell asked the administration to provide updated summaries of board‑level meetings and to resend the map and list of affected neighborhoods after a minor presentation glitch prevented full display of one slide. Stanfield agreed to update and redistribute the materials.

The principal assigned to Reedy Laurel (Matt) provided a program overview, describing an environmental‑science focus that includes two science labs — a wet lab paired with a greenhouse and a high‑tech lab — and close partnership with Roper Mountain Science Center. Matt said the curriculum will emphasize atmospheric science, environmental chemistry, forestry and other earth‑science themes across K–5 and phase in by grade level.

Mrs. Middleton moved to approve the administration’s recommended student assignment plan; Linda seconded. The committee voted by voice and the motion carried.

The administration said some changes will be phased (by grade) and that parents will receive notices about temporary bus stops, phased implementation and choice options. The board asked the administration to clarify feeder impacts where parents requested additional review. Officials said they would not move middle or high school assignments absent parent request, but that the board could amend the recommendation if it so chose.

Next steps include sending updated maps and a revised list of islands and affected feeder patterns to board members, notifying families of temporary bus stops and finalizing phased implementation details for the school’s August 2025 opening.