Anderson students moving to other schools

[Nelson Muntz]

http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=12385390

Anderson - School closings in Anderson have some families moving their children out to schools in neighboring communities.
Yorktown's classrooms are filling with students from Anderson. More than 60 will arrive next year and more are waiting. Administrators are limiting enrollment to keep class sizes from getting too large.
"We've had a lot of parental involvement come with our transfer kids. We've had a lot of kids vested in their own education," said Assistant Superintendent Jennifer McCormick.
Families are fleeing the turmoil of neighboring Anderson Community Schools. Four elementary schools are closing and Highland High School is becoming a middle school.
"They are closing the better of the schools," said parent Bre Holdcroft.
Holdcroft intends to move her children to other schools, otherwise, "they are not going to get the education or experiences they need."

The additional students are a financial windfall for Yorktown, bringing hundreds of thousands of additional state funding to the school corporation.
"That keeps us afloat. It helps our funding a great deal," McCormick said. "It is a lot for us."
On the other side, the moves are costing the struggling Anderson schools hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Schools are not obligated to accept the students of other school districts. They can pick and choose, looking at student's academic record, attendance record and disciplinary record before making decisions.

"These are outstanding students," said Yorktown High School Principal Kelly Wittman, who interviewed each student.
But athletes transferring from Highland may lose their opportunity to play. Although their school is closing, the IHSAA hasn't decided whether they will be eligible to play anywhere else but rival Anderson High School.
School administrators say current transfer rules are unclear and the IHSAA plans to clear up the issue with new rules. A vote is scheduled for Monday.