Manatee school district seeks input on school planning

Input sought on Manatee district school planning

MANATEE -- The Manatee County School District is seeking community input in planning for growth.

A questionnaire is available at manateeschools.net. The banner, "Help shape the future of our schools, School District of Manatee County Facilities Master Planning," leads to the questionnaire, which will be available through Sunday night. Questionnaire results and findings from the district facilities master planning process will be discussed during a Manatee County School Board workshop from 2-5 p.m. Jan. 19 at the School Support Center in Bradenton.

Manatee high school choice enrollment opens Monday

MANATEE -- The Manatee County School District high school choice program opens Monday.

Open enrollment is the only time parents can apply to have a student attend a high school outside an assigned zone school without a specific reason. High school choice applications are available Jan. 11-22 at manateeschools.net by clicking "Hot Topics" then "School Choice," and at the Office of Student Assignment, 1400 First Ave. E., Palmetto.

Students new to the school system must present a certified birth certificate and Social Security number to apply for school choice. The application must be cosigned by the enrolling parent.

School choice decisions interest parents of students moving from middle to high school because of the variety of academy programs offered at district schools. Parents may use school choice to enroll their child in the international baccalaureate program offered at Southeast High School.

School choice applications are subject to enrollment capacities.

Choice transportation is not offered for high school students with the exception of those in the international baccalaureate program.

Middle and elementary school choice programs are held later in the year.

Mandatory Rowlett open house scheduled Feb. 4

BRADENTON -- Rowlett Academy, a public charter school in Manatee County, is accepting applications for school choice, which runs from mid-January to mid-February.

A Feb. 29 lottery will decide charter acceptances. Applicants must take a school tour or attend open house at 6 p.m. Feb. 4, and apply to be considered for the lottery.

Information: Call contact Rowlett Academy at 941-708-6100 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Center Montessori School sets open house Jan. 14

BRADENTON -- The Center Montessori School annual open house is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Jan. 14 at 6024 26th St. W., Bradenton.

Child care available by reservation.

Information: 941-753-4987.

Community Christian School sets groundbreaking

BRADENTON -- Community Christian School is constructing a 5,00-square-foot building with a welcome center, administrative offices, multiuse room and locker rooms.

The groundbreaking is at 10 a.m. Jan. 15 at 5500 18th St. E., Bradenton.

The school will also renovate the 12,000-square-foot gymnasium and cafeteria renovation to allow nearly 300 students to participate in athletic events in a three-court arena with new bleachers, flooring and scoreboards. The new and remodeled buildings join a preschool building, elementary building, and the junior and senior high buildings on the school's 40-acre campus.

Community Christian School is a ministry of Community Baptist Church started by Pastor William Martin, in September 1968. The school opened under the administrative leadership of Bill Allan with only 57.

-- Herald staff reports

This story was originally published January 9, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Manatee school district seeks input on school planning ."