The proposed zoning for Park Crossing High School, set to open for the 2013-2014 school year, was discussed during a called meeting of the Montgomery County Board of Education on Friday.

The boundary for the proposed zone in the eastern part of the county would run north from the Montgomery/Pike county line along Hobbie Road to Woodley Road.  It then would run northeast to Troy Highway, then northwest to Taylor Road, then north to Taylor Road, then north along McLemore Road to the northern Montgomery/Elmore county line, according to information provided by Montgomery Public Schools.

A map of the proposed school zones will be available online at www.mps.k12.al.us.

The schools impacted by the proposed Park Crossing zone are Robert E. Lee High School and Jefferson Davis High School.  It’s estimated about 290 students combined could come from the two schools.  Superintendent Barbara Thompson said officials estimate the school will have 400 students, making up 9th and 10th grades, during the first school year.

Park Crossing will add 11th grade in 2014 and 12th grade in 2015.  It’s estimated that at that time the school will have about 1,100 students, according to MPS.  An additional pod, or hall, might be added, if needed in the future, to bring the capacity to 1,600 students.

A public hearing on the proposed school zoning changes will be held at 11:30 a.m. April 9th in the auditorium of the school system’s central office, 307 S. Decatur St.  The board is expected to consider the proposal at its April 23rd monthly meeting.

Also during Friday’s meeting, Rocky Smith was announced as Park Crossing’s first principal.

“I am impressed with Mr. Smith’s enthusiasm and his dedication to students,” Thompson said in a prepared statement.  “His experience and commitment to excellence is just what is needed to launch this new school.”
Smith has worked as a teacher, coach, athletic director and assistant principal for MPS for more than a decade.  His most recent assignments were as assistant principal for both Loveless Academic Magnet Program and Booker T. Washington magnet high schools.

“We are very excited about Park Crossing’s opening,” Thompson stated.  “The school’s design will have a college campus feel.  The students, faculty and parents will find this school an inviting and vibrant learning experience.”

This article was written by Matt Okarmus for the Montgomery Advertiser March 23, 2013.