A plan to allow 60 sixth and seventh graders from Brooks to complete their academic careers at Rising Starr Middle School instead of transferring to Whitewater Middle School next year will be voted on by the Fayette County School Board next month. Current fifth graders at Brooks Elementary will go to Whitewater in 1999, according to the modified plan on the table.

A small contingent of parents from Brooks came before the board Monday night to express their concern over the fact that there was no representation from Brooks and the subdivisions directly affected by the revised attendance zones. "The whole of Brooks was ignored. The people affected were not represented," Stacy Moffett told the board. "Of the five members on the committee, none of their areas were rezoned."

While some families may have children in both Rising Starr and Whitewater Middle Schools next year if the modified plan is accepted, they are also concerned about the increased bus travel time to those attending Whitewater and the capacity number of students now at Rising Starr.

In other business, the board approved Superintendent Dave Brotherton's request for additional school personnel. He asked for four special education teachers for the current year and three in reserve for anticipated growth, three special education paraprofessionals, three custodians for the Lafayette Center,one receptionist for the Lafayette Center, an additional assistant principal for Sandy Creek High School, another teacher for the alternative school and an after school clerical position. "This should carry us through the balance of the school year," Brotherton said.

"The system is hard-pressed to find special ed teachers," board member Darryl Chaney said. Brotherton added that some school districts in the state are offering monetary incentives or paying for teachers currently on staff to take the additional course work necessary for special education. "It's the single most significant shortage in the state," Brotherton added.

Board member Connie Hale noted that the school district's maintenance department was also understaffed. "I feel we need to look at it," she said.

Brotherton said he would "take that opening in the door" and proceed to make some future recommendations on pumping up the trade staff from its current number of 45.

The board also committed to replacing more of the school buses in its aging fleet. With the purchase of 23 conventional buses and five special education buses in 1999 at a locked in 1998 price of $48,000 per vehicle and an equal number in the year 2000, Brotherton said the 12 -year vehicle replacement cycle can be resumed.