Union County Public Schools got word of an unexpected offer last night that could allow the district to avoid a controversial redistricting, at least for now. The county has agreed to give the school district $3 million for mobile classrooms to ease overcrowding.
The union county school board has been mulling a decision to shift up to 5,800 students. The county commission and school board have heard from hundreds of upset parents.
Last night, the county commission voted to give the district money to buy 49 trailers with the intention of avoiding the redistricting.
“We spent nine weeks involved in a trial trying to get money from the county and now, all of a sudden, I got a $3 million check on the way. So I just have to let them know I want it. It’s definitely hard not to just jump up and say, ‘yes,’” says school board chairman Richard Yercheck
He says the trailers would only be a temporary solution to easing overcrowding and wouldn’t make sense for schools that already have capped attendance. District leaders say they couldn’t install them until January of next year.
The board will discuss the proposal at tonight’s school board meeting, but Yercheck doesn’t expect a vote on it.