City to study redistricting

The Waynesboro School Board appointed a committee Tuesday night to study a redistricting of the city’s elementary schools to relieve burgeoning enrollment at Westwood Hills Elementary School.

Superintendent Robin Crowder said the committee is composed of principals, parents, Crowder and Waynesboro City Planner Michael Barnes.

Crowder said the committee could review the districts for elementary schools in October, and hold public hearings in November.

Action could be taken in January on redistricting well ahead of an August 2010 startup.

Westwood Hills on Rosser Avenue now has 525 students, making it the city’s largest elementary school.

The superintendent said a redistricting is not necessarily about Westwood Hills being at capacity, but about maintaining a lower pupil-teacher ratio at all city schools.

“We want to keep the ratio closer to 20,’’ he said.

School board members said the study by the committee is to enhance learning.

“The whole point is to advance instruction,’’ said Waynesboro School Board Chairman Jeremy Taylor.