Resolution Aims to Prevent Seniors From Switching Schools

The Orange County Board of Education passed a resolution Monday that will allow rising seniors who would otherwise be redistricted to the new Cedar Ridge High School to remain at Orange High School.

The proposal, authored by Superintendent Randy Bridges, comes one year before the opening of Cedar Ridge High, which is expected to have a capacity of 900 students. Officials hope the new high school will alleviate overcrowding at Orange High.

The proposal will not allow siblings of rising Orange High seniors redistricted to Cedar Ridge High to attend Orange High. This policy contradicts a previous policy for elementary schools that allowed siblings of grandfathered students to remain in their current school for one year.

But board member David Kolbinsky expressed concern about failing to grandfather in siblings of rising seniors at OHS.

Kolbinsky voted against the proposal because it would inconvenience parents who might have a rising senior at Orange High and younger children at Cedar Ridge High. "(I voted against the proposal) to prevent the parents from being involved in too many schools," he said.

But board member Delores Simpson said Kolbinsky's concerns would not override the problem of overcrowding.

"Some people are opposed to certain rules, but for the most they had the cooperation of the parents (of children) of the school," Simpson said.

Simpson added that the proposal passed despite fears from Orange High officials that grandfathering would result in an inordinate amount of transfer applications. "This resolution will be carried out as long as it doesn't affect the population (of the two schools)," she said.

Simpson said the passing of the resolution is an important step in solving overcrowding concerns in Orange County Schools. "The resolution and the new high school will handle all current students."

The City Editor can be reached

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