Creating an alternative elementary school in Tulsa

Monday, August 2nd 2004, 9:52 am

By: News On 6

A new program could shift hundreds of North Tulsa students into new schools this fall. Monday night, the Tulsa School Board discussed the new plan to create a new alternative school for elementary students.

News on 6 anchor Terry Hood says Tulsa Public Schools is considering turning Lindsey Elementary at 2740 East 41st Street North, into an alternative school.

If the plan is approved, about 200 students who currently attend the school could end up at new schools this fall. Tulsa schools are looking at changing the boundaries at five elementary schools to make room for the alternative program. If the plan goes through, Whitman, Penn, Anderson, Celia Clinton and Bryant would all get new boundaries.

The bulk of Lindsey students, about 115 kids, would attend Penn Elementary. 49 would go to Whitman, 24 to Anderson and 1 to Celia Clinton.

Lindsey's principal JoAnn Fennell says the schools her students would attend are pretty close to each other. And that should make the transition easier on the students. "Many of the children while they may be attending one school have friends, acquaintances, and relatives at the other schools. So itâ€™s not like theyâ€™re going off into unknown territory so to speak.â€

The school board will formally consider the plan in a couple of weeks.