Preparations for the closing of Webster Elementary School in the Eastwood district have already begun with administrators holding a meeting last week for parents to discuss the transition set to go into effect in the 2011-12 school year.

Brent Welker, superintendent, said teachers and the administration plan to develop class lists in March for students in grades one through four, allowing students and their parents a chance to meet teachers this year.

The current first and third grade Webster classes will be moving to Pemberville Elementary School due to a lack of space at Luckey Elementary School, creating an additional section at those grade levels.

The current kindergarten and second grades will be split between Luckey and Pemberville schools.

Welker said siblings being moved will not be split unless requested by parents and the district will attempt to limit any bus ride for students so it won’t be longer than their current route.

Fifth grade students will be attending the middle school, which shares the central campus with the high school and a major issue facing transportation planners, he said, is busing fifth grade students with high school students.

Middle school administrators have been preparing a tentative schedule of five 50-minute academic blocks and a 30-minute academic assist session in the morning for intervention and class meetings dedicated to a bullying prevention program.

A 45-minute daily special session will give students the chance to take art, music, computers, and technical education courses, Welker said.

The administration is planning a meeting for parents of fifth graders on March 22 to offer them a chance to tour the middle school building and meet the teachers.

On April 5, meetings for parents of incoming students in grades one through four are scheduled for 6 p.m. at Luckey Elementary School and 7:30 p.m. at Pemberville Elementary School.

A visitation day for elementary students is scheduled for May 18.

The school board has also taken the first step to seeking voter renewal of a 1 percent income tax, approving a resolution of necessity for the levy, which will likely be on the May ballot.

The income tax, now in its fifth year, generates about $1.5 million annually, according to Dave Michel, district treasurer.

The board and administration initially promoted the income tax by pledging to not seek renewal of an 8.9-mill property tax.

Eastwood voters last year approved a 4.45-mill, 5-year emergency property tax issue.

If voters renew the income tax, Eastwood will not need additional local revenues at least until 2015 even with the loss of state funds, Welker said.

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