Sikeston families learn homes are located in NMCC R-1 District

SIKESTON- A discovery that some students attending Sikeston R-6 School District legally live in the New Madrid County R-1 School District has forced school officials to explain boundary guidelines.

Sikeston R-6 Superintendent Tom Williams acknowledges the district's boundaries can be confusing. It doesn't follow the Sikeston city limits and it crosses county lines, he pointed out.

It wasn't until recently that Williams said he even became aware Deerfield Village, an apartment complex located on Lawrence Street behind the South Pointe Shopping Center, wasn't in the R-6 District.

Last month parents of approximately 15 children attending Sikeston schools received letters from the Sikeston R-6 and New Madrid County R-1 school districts stating their student was incorrectly enrolled in the Sikeston school district. Families have until Dec. 19 to move into the Sikeston district.

"We feel terrible for the students and the parents, but we must follow the state regulations," said Williams. "We can't accept money illegally from the state; we just can't do that."

The R-6 Superintendent explained the District receives state aid for each student in the District who attends classes. By state statute, students outside of the district are expected to pay tuition.

Williams said he and New Madrid County R-1 School District Superintendent Dr. Cynthia Sharp-Amick discussed the situation after they were made aware of it and agreed the students should be allowed to remain in the R-6 District through the end of the first semester. At that time, those families who have moved into the District or wish to pay tuition will be able to remain in Sikeston schools; the other elementary students will attend classes at the Matthews Elementary School in Matthews, located approximately 10 miles south of Sikeston, or for older students classes on the Central Middle School and High School campus.

"Obviously we don't want to lose the children and we don't want children to travel long distances when there is a school right here in the city, but we have to follow the regulations and statutes," Williams said.

Several parents have contacted Williams expressing their concerns about the District boundaries. "I felt like they understood it, but obviously they are not excited about it. It is not something they wanted to hear," he said.

Most of the students impacted are in elementary school, according to Williams. The parents spoke of their children's attachment to their teachers and said the youngsters were upset over the thought of having to change schools, he said.

As far as any suggestion to redraw the boundaries to include the Deerfield Village, Williams explained the process isn't easy. He pointed out district lines were established decades ago.

In 2001 before Deerfield Village was built, the lines were redrawn to include the area on the east side of Main Street, including the Plantation Acres subdivision and the site of new Three Rivers College campus. The west side of Main Street remained in the New Madrid County R-1 District.

To bring about a boundary change requires petitions be signed by 10 percent of the voters (who voted in the last school district election) in each school district to put the issue on the ballot. If the voters in both districts approved the change, the lines are redrawn.

However, if the vote is split, then the matter would go before a panel of three arbitrators appointed by State Board of Education. The arbitrators would make the final decision on whether to change the boundary.

"That is what occurred in 2001 when (the areas including) Plantation Acres and Three Rivers were placed in our school district," Williams said. "We had to go before a panel of arbitrators."