Bastrop ISD plans on redrawing maps

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) - As the Bastrop area continues to grow, the Bastrop Independent School District is turning their attention to crowding concerns and future growth at some of its schools.

In the past five years, BISD's enrollment has grown by 900 students.

To address some of those concerns, Bastrop ISD will begin a process of leveling enrollment at the District’s elementary campuses for the start of the 2013-2014 school year.

School administrators say the growth in the western portion of the District is causing some elementary schools to have more students than others. 

One of the fastest growing elementary schools is Cedar Creek Elementary, currently the school has 842 students which is 12 students more than the capacity limit.

Lost Pines and Emile Elementary experienced enrollment shifts due to the Bastrop Complex Fires.

Currently Emile and Mina Elementary have the least amount of students, 535 and 428 respectively.

Mina, Emile and Lost Pines ES are all in the District's eastern zone, which feed into Bastrop Middle School and Bastrop High School.

"Schools look at their attendance zone from time to time," said Donald Williams Executive Director of Community Services and Communications, "in order to create a good environment for all the kids."

The District is presenting two scenarios to parents and conducting community forums to gauge which plan parents prefer.

• BISD Rezoning Options

In Option A, students in the Paige area will be rezoned from Lost Pines Elementary to Mina Elementary. In Option B, those same students would be rezoned to Emile Elementary.

On Thursday night, a meeting was held at Mina Elementary where some parents voiced concerns about the potential new boundaries.

"The school we are currently attending [Lost Pines Elementary] was hit hard by the fire and many of our students lost homes and now they face losing their school as well," said Debbie Barrington, Lost Pines Elementary PTA President.

The next community forum will be held on Thursday, Jan. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Cedar Creek Elementary.