Oct 3, 2007 7:48 pm US/Central
Overcrowding A Problem At Keller High Schools
KELLER (CBS 11 News) ―
At one Keller high school, books, supplies and classroom space are all at a premium. The problem at Central High School is so serious that the district is stepping to try and help.
The hallways are hectic, the lunch lines are long and the classrooms are cramped at Central High.
"Sometimes you get your lunch as the bell rings and there aren't enough tables, there's not enough spaces," says student Jason Schailder. "Of course people jam at tables. We have about 20 people at an eight-person table."
All three Keller ISD high school buildings and parking lots are packed everyday.
Some 3,000 students are enrolled at Central High, putting the school about 300 students over capacity.
High school teachers in the district say they've noticed a staunch increase in class tardiness and students say you don't have to guess the reason why.
"It's hard to get to our class in the five minutes that we have. I wish we didn't have as many students here as we do," said Central High senior Devin Vittaton.
Overcrowding is thanks to economic growth and a subsequent boom in area construction and development. By 2011 it's expected that 10,000 new homes will be built in Keller.
Keller ISD official Jeff Baker told CBS 11 News, "With the growth that we're experiencing in the district it's been necessary to change attendance zones… almost on a yearly basis."
The problem of overcrowding is expected to be alleviated when the construction of a new high school is complete in August of 2009. Until that happens Central High Principal David Hinson says, "We've got six portable classrooms, so we're holding class outside some, but we're making due."
Thursday night district officials are holding a meeting at Central High to discuss the new zoning boundaries. The meeting is set to begin at 7 p.m.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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