Hearings slated for new school

Public meetings will gauge opinions of families of students to attend Cross Creek High

Web posted January 11, 1999

By Faith Johnson
Staff Writer

Parents whose children are scheduled to attend Richmond County's Cross Creek High School next fall will get a chance today to let school officials know how they feel.

School officials dropped off maps last Monday outlining the boundaries for the new high school. Public hearings will be held today at 6 p.m. in the gym at Hephzibah High, on Brothersville Road, and at 7:45 p.m. at Butler High School's gym, 2011 Lumpkin Road.

The $18 million school is scheduled to open in August on Old Waynesboro Road. Because it sits near two chemical plants that store large amounts of toxic chemicals, it has been the subject of controversy since construction began last year.

The proposed rezoning is supposed to relieve overcrowding at Butler and Hephzibah high schools, taking nearly 600 of Butler's 1,850 students and about 700 of Hephzibah's 2,000.

The 98-acre school site also will have a $3.2 million outdoor facility that includes a 6,000-seat stadium, three lighted tennis courts, lighted softball and baseball fields and an eight-lane running track.

But even with all the amenities, several students at Butler High School said they would like to remain at their current high school.

Rufus Copeland, a 10th-grader at Butler, said if he has to move it will be his sixth time changing schools since about the fifth grade.

``I moved only once by choice,'' he said. ``I would like to stay here with my friends.''

Susan Rogers, principal of Hephzibah High School, said the rezoning will be especially hard for students who were looking forward to graduating from Hephzibah High because one or both of their parents graduated from the school.

Juniors at both schools will decide by spring whether they want to attend the new high school or stay at their current schools. If they decide to stay at their current schools they will have to provide their own transportation, school officials say.

The proposed map, which will have to be approved by board trustees, shows that students will attend the new school if they live:

--South of Butler Creek down to Horseshoe Road and along Little Spirit Creek.

--East of Peach Orchard Road -- from Butler Creek to Little Spirit Creek -- to the county line.

--South of Tobacco Road -- along Fairington Court -- to Patrick Avenue. This includes Boykin Road but excludes the Buffington Drive area.

--East of Fairington Court -- from Tobacco Road to Patrick Avenue -- to Peach Orchard Road.

Faith Johnson can be reached at (706) 823-3765 or faithj@augustachronicle.com.