breaking news

New Boundaries Proposed for Rogers Schools

By: Tyler Thomason

Updated: February 19, 2013

"It's really hard to see positives when i have my kids say to me, 'Why are they making us move?'"

Some parents in Rogers are unable to see the bright side when it comes to boundary changes.

"If your elementary boundary changes, it could affect where you go to school for middle school or high school," says Ashley Siwiec, communications director for Rogers Public Schools.

With a new elementary opening this fall, changes are inevitable.

So, after months of gathering data and feedback, a special committee presented a boundary change proposal before the school board Tuesday night.

"The purpose tonight was really only to make a formal presentation of the committee's recommendation," says Mark Sparks, deputy superintendent.

"They are overwhelmed with information right now."

Michele Naylor-Whiteside has three students in the Westside area of Rogers and she disagrees with some of the options included in Tuesday's proposal.

"We bought homes in that area just so our kids could go to Elmwood and go to Rogers, and now we're being told 'Nope that's not a possibility you're going to have to move,'" Naylor-Whiteside says.

"I know parents are out looking for new homes truthfully," Naylor-Whiteside adds "We're loyal to our school communities just as everyone else would be."

Tuesday's meeting included images and explanations describing an outline of how the proposed boundaries would affect certain neighborhoods.

" If there's really no valid reason to move students based on the numbers we were given, then I don't see why we are doing it right now," Naylor-Whiteside says.

"We can wait a few more years."

"Families are very attached to the schools that they go to, they love their school, they love their teachers," Siwiec says.

"It's a very difficult process to go through."

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