FORT THOMAS
RECORDER
Your Community Recorder newspaper serving Fort Thomas 75¢
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2012
Community wants out of county schools By Chris Mayhew cmayhew@nky.com
FORT THOMAS — Residents of the Villa Grande community in Fort Thomas want out of the Campbell County Schools district. The Fort Thomas residents are petitioning to leave Campbell County Schools and join Fort Thomas Independent Schools. A trio of about 15 residents presented the petition and pleaded their case to the Campbell County Schools Board of Education at the Oct. 1 meeting. The school board, according to Kentucky law, has 90 days to decide on the petition to change the district boundary lines. Board chairperson Janis Winbigler said the board will take the request under advisement. Villa Grande was created in 2006 in Fort Thomas and consists of three streets and has 52 homes, according to city records. Campbell County has two students enrolled from Villa Grande. “We brought this petition to you with over 76 percent support of our community members,” said Bimal Patel, a Villa Grande resident. A total of 66 of the 86 property owners signed and supported the petition, Patel said. “We understand that there’s serious financial considerations that you guys will be weighing into this decision,” Patel said to the board. Sometimes finances really drive a decision, he said. “We wanted to be here and really convey to you that this a lot more than about finances,” Patel said. “This has to do with our children. This has to do with our livelihood and how our children can grow up and be a part of the community that we live in.” From Villagrande Boulevard it is 8.4 miles to Crossroads Elementary School in Cold Spring (the elementary
SPOOKY SEASON Help your favorite four-legged friend celebrate Halloween B8
BECAUSE COMMUNITY MATTERS
PLAY TIME AT THE PARK
WHY IS THERE AN ‘ISLAND’ IN FORT THOMAS? Campbell County Schools’ district boundary lines includes a circular island of property not connected to the rest of the district in Fort Thomas. A total of 66 students enrolled in Campbell County Schools live in Fort Thomas, said Kerry Hill, director of pupil personnel for the district. The island of property is one of several northern areas unconnected to the district’s other boundary lines. Another swath of property in Campbell County Schools is east of Dayton. History and money is the answer for why the boundary lines exist in that form, said Campbell County Property Valuation Administrator Daniel Braun. As a district, Campbell County Schools predates the other city schools in the county, Braun said. Agreements were made to leave pockets of the county school district in or near city school districts in the county school district since most of the population and property taxes assessment money was in the north end of the county, Braun said. “Part of the issue was there wasn’t going to be enough money for the county school board,” he said.
serving Villa Grande) and 14.4 miles to Campbell County High School, according to Google map directions. It is 1.9 miles from Villagrande Boulevard to Highlands High School. Villa Grande resident Cherie Zieleniewski said her daughter goes to a private school that is three miles away and would have to ride the bus See SCHOOLS, Page A2
Soup’s on
James Beasey, Alex Lacourt and Celia Lacourt spend a Sunday afternoon at Tower Park looking for pill bugs. AMANDA JOERING/COMMUNITY RECORDER
Council election to bring new members By Amanda Joering ajoering@nky.com
FORT THOMAS — While the candidates for the Fort Thomas City Council are running unopposed in the upcoming election, the group will be gaining two new members for the upcoming term. Ken Bowman and Jay Fossett will join current members Roger Peterman, Tom Lampe, Lisa Kelly and Eric Haas, replacing current members Jim Doepker and Jill Steller, who are not running for re-election. Doepker, who has been serving the city for about 20 years through the planning and zoning board and city council, said he is happy with all that has been accomplished during his time, but that it seemed like the right time to step down and let someone else get involved. Steller, who has been on the council since 2008, said she enjoyed her time on the council and did her best to serve the city, but
FOR COLE
Rita shares a recipe for a sweet fall treat, pumpkin soup. B3
A local filmmaker shares and honors his friend’s life through a documentary. B1
Doepker
Fossett
Haas
Kelly
the board,” Bowman said. Bowman said his goals for the upcoming term include revisiting some zoning issues, looking at reopening the walking path around the reservoir, moving forward with the sale Lampe Peterman Steller of the old military homes feels that it is time to move on and in Tower Park, maintainpursue new things. ing the city’s new assets, and Bowman, a Fort Thomas busi- working to improve parking in the ness owner, served on the city’s Midway District. Renaissance Board for nine The other new member, Fosyears. sett, a former city manager of the “I thought that by serving on City of Covington, has several the council, I could have even goals he hopes to pursue during more of a positive effect on the See COUNCIL, Page A2 city beyond the work I did with
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