School Board Set for Final Vote on Assignment Plan

The Jefferson County Board of Education is set for a final vote on a new student assignment plan for the district this week. The plan comes after the district’s current assignment policy was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court last year.Two weeks ago, the board approved the plan recommended by Superintendent Sheldon Berman. That plan would arrange elementary schools into six contiguous clusters. Berman says although it wasn’t the primary motivating factor his decision, his recommended plan will save the district money."We will be able to grandfather students in the contiguous plan at about one-third the cost that it would in the non-contiguous plan. At the same time, in the long run, as the plan moves into effect, we will I believe save money and time in terms of transportation," said Berman.Berman estimates the district will spend about 800-thousand dollars a year to grandfather students who are already in elementary school. The plan is expected to be in place for students entering elementary school in the 2009-2010 school year.