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MCS lays out attendance area for new school

Written by Laura Douglass, Times Reporter

Thursday, 21 January 2010

    West End Elementary students and staff can expect to see overcrowded conditions improve next Fall; however some residents — especially those residing west of NC Hwy 5 — may be surprised to find themselves redistricted into a brand new school.
    “These things are not just easily done. There is much planning that has to go before the process and there’s much planning and rearranging during the process,” Deputy Superintendent Dr. Larry Upchurch said when presented the proposed redistricting lines for West Pine Elementary to the Board of Education on Thursday, January 7.
    A planned public hearing on the proposed districts has not yet been scheduled, but Upchurch anticipated the location of these lines will be finalized in March.
    In the current draft of the plan, all elementary-aged children within the greater Seven Lakes area — Seven Lakes West, North & South communities, along with McLendon Hills and points northeast and west — will continue to feed into West End Elementary. Children living in Foxfire, Taylortown, and Jackson Springs, basically all areas east of the NC 73 - Hwy 211 intersection will be redistricted to the new West Pine Elementary.
    The plan calls for three hundred fifteen students from Pinehurst Elementary and one hundred twenty students from West End Elementary to be relocated to the new school. Students enrolled at Academy Heights Elementary, a year-round school located in Taylortown, will not be affected by the change.

    Factors that determined the location of the proposed lines include attaining the target population number to fill the new school; the distance to and from school for students; respecting natural boundaries when possible; keeping entire communities within one school district; and demographic and social economic status of students.
    Schools Superintendent Dr. Susan Purser said that the length of some roads and, in some cases, the lack of a safe turnaround point for buses, also had an impact on the decision-making process.
     “We started with a small circle around each school and expanded it until we reached [target] numbers. We tried to not separate communities,” said Upchurch. “We are trying to reduce overcrowding . . . to get rid of mobile units and have room for physical growth.”
    He said the transportation department is looking at alternatives, including a drop-off shuttle site, which could limit excessive bus riding time.
    “We are looking at how to minimize stops but still protect children. We do not want them walking a lot of distance from home to [the bus] stop,” said Upchurch.
    The actual boundaries proposed for West Pine Elementary are NC Hwy 15-501 north at Doubs Chapel Road, extending south to the Pinehurst Traffic Circle, west on Hwy 211 to Beulah Hill Road, north on Hwy 5 to Lake Hills Road, then right to Hoffman Road, with Richmond County serving as the western boundary. From Hoffman Road, the line angles northwest to Eagle Branch Road, east to Flowers Road, south to Currie Mill Road, southeast to NC 73 crossing Hwy 211, and northeast to Carthage Road and east to Doubs Chapel.
    A map of the area is available on the MCS and The Times’ websites.
    During an update of the Facilities Master Plan, Upchurch reported that ninety percent of masonry work at West Pine Elementary was complete. Preliminary paving is complete, a lift station has been installed, and roof work continues. The school, which is scheduled to open in Fall 2010, will have a total capacity of 550 students. Seth Powers, the current principal of Highfalls Elementary, will lead the school.

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In Memory Of . . .

Joseph Edward Anderson

Joseph Edward Anderson, 79, of Seven Lakes, died Friday, September 3, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. A memorial service was held Monday, September 6, at Our Lady of the Americas Catholic Church in Candor.

Elsie Elizabeth Schultz

Elsie Elizabeth Schultz, 77, of Seven Lakes West, formerly of Huntington, N.Y., died Thursday, August 26, at her home. Funeral services will be held Saturday, August 28, at 11 am, at Boles Funeral Home Chapel in Seven Lakes, with the Rev. Richard Schliepsiek officiating. Burial will follow at the Seven Lakes Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Sally Foster Noel Sherman

Sally Foster Noel Sherman, of West End, died Thursday, August 26, one day before her sixty-fourth birthday. A memorial service will be held at the residence, 487 Murdocksville Road in West End, on Wednesday, September 1, at 3 pm. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. A private interment will be at a later date.

Claude Roger Dutton

Claude Roger Dutton, 66, of Pinelake Health Care & Rehab in Carthage, died Thursday, August 26, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. The family will receive friends at Boles Funeral Home in Seven Lakes from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Saturday, August 28.

Robert F. Hearn, Sr.

Robert F. Hearn, Sr., 85, of Seven Lakes died at home on Thursday August 19, 2010. The family will greet friends at a reception in the Crawford Activities Center on the West End Presbyterian Campus, 324 Knox Lane, in West End, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm on Saturday August 28.. A memorial service will start in the Church Sanctuary at 2:00 pm with Rev. Dr. Lawrence Lyon and associate pastor Rev. Chip Pope. Burial will follow in the family plot at Pinebluff Cemetery, Pinebluff.

Trudie Vaughn

Trudie Vaughn, 77, of Foxfire Village, died Wednesday, August 18, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 19, at 11:00 am, at West End United Methodist Church with Dr. Won S. Namkoong officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the church fellowship hall.

Lawrence Heskal Nissan

Lawrence Heskal Nissan, 84, of Seven Lakes North, died Monday, August 16, at his residence. A graveside service was held Wednesday, August 18, at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Southern Pines.

James Chapman Wise

James Chapman Wise, 89, of Foxfire Village, died Saturday, August 14. The family will remember and honor Mr. Wise in a private service.

Leon Heywood Mimms

Leon Heywood Mimms, of Seven Lakes West, died Thursday, August 12. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing. A memorial service commemorating his life will be conducted at Saint Paul Lutheran Church at 144 Westgate Drive, Pinehurst, at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, August 21. A reception will follow.

Richard L. Hughey

Richard L. Hughey, 78, of Southport, formerly of West End, died Thursday, July 22, at his residence. A memorial service was held Saturday, July 31, at First Christian Church, in Wilmington, with Dr. Lance Perry and Dr. Les Wicker officiating. A private committal will be held at Oleander Memorial Gardens.

Isobel Jean Mains

Isobel Jean Mains, 90, of West End, died Friday, July 6, at Morrison Manor in Laurinburg. A memorial service will be conducted at 3:00 pm on Sunday, August 8, at Culdee Presbyterian Church, conducted by the Rev. Chris Bobo.

David Russell Miller

David Russell Miller, 21 of Seven Lakes, beloved son of Mark and Florence Miller, died Thursday, July, 15, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. A Requiem Tridentine Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, July 21, at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Pinehurst with the Rev. Paul M. Parkerson officiating. Rite of Committal will be at St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church Cemetery in Southern Pines. A vigil for the deceased will be held Tuesday July 20, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Boles Funeral Home in Southern Pines.

Junnie C. Garrison

Junnie C. Garrison, 84, of West End, died Friday, July 16, at his home with his family by his side. A funeral service was held Monday, July 19, at Culdee Presbyterian Church, in West End, with the Rev. Thomas Spence and Pastor Jane Andrews officiating. Burial followed at the church cemetery, with military honors rendered by the U.S. Navy.

Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Jones

Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Jones, 69, of Seven Lakes North, formerly of Fountain St., Clinton, N.Y., passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, July 15. A memorial service was celebrated on Sunday, July 18, at West End Presbyterian Church. On Wednesday, July 21, a memorial service will be held at O’Brien Funeral Home in Brick, N.J. and a graveside memorial service is planned at the Westmoreland Cemetery in Westmoreland, N.Y. on Friday, July 23.

Jack B. Hombs

Jack B. Hombs, 79, of Seven Lakes North, died Friday, July 9, at his home. A private service will be held by the family.

Heidi Patterson Chase

Heidi Patterson Chase, 38, of Seven Lakes North, passed away Wednesday, February 10, after a courageous battle with cancer. A Funeral Mass was held on Saturday, February 13, at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Pinehurst, with the Rev. James M. Labosky officiating. A Rite of Committal followed in Seven Lakes Cemetery.

Mary A. Nuwer

Mary A. Nuwer, 92, of Foxfire Village, formerly of New York and Florida, died Monday, November 30, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, December 4 at Yates-Thagard Baptist Church, conducted by Pastor Steve Johnson. Burial will be in Connellsville, Pa. The family will receive friends from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm on Thursday, December 4, at Fry and Prickett Funeral Home in Carthage, and other times at the residence.

Robert “Bob” Stark

Robert “Bob” Stark, 70, of Seven Lakes West, died suddenly on Friday, November 27. A private funeral service will be held on Friday, December 4. A memorial service will be held on December 5, at 10:00 am at The Chapel in the Pines. The Rev. Donald J. Welch will officiate. All are invited to greet the family immediately following the service at a reception being held at the Seven Lakes North Clubhouse.

Patrick Kenneth Patterson

Patrick Kenneth Patterson, 64, of Seven Lakes and Aberdeen, died peacefully on Friday, November 27, at the Durham VA Hospital after a courageous battle with lung cancer. A funeral mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Wednesday, December 2, at 11:00 am. The family will receive friends Tuesday, December 1, at Boles Funeral Home of Seven Lakes from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.