Akron, AL -    Many parents who have children attending Akron Elementary and High Schools are quite upset at school board officials.  The board has voted 3-2 to move elementary students to the high school building making it a K-8 school.  9th thru 12th graders will be bussed between Hale County High School in Moundville and one of two High Schools in Greensboro.  Superintendent Frank Stegall says the decision is largely based on declining enrollment between the two schools in Akron.  He says as a result, the schools receive reduced funding from the state.  There are less than 300 students between  the two schools.  "As I told the board, you can have a K-12 school there but you will have two math, two English, one science and social studies teacher and that's all for your 7-12 grades," Stegall said.  But, many parents say the enrollment is down because the system does not enforce zoning rules.  Norman Hunter says, "You have students who live just about on the school ground in Akron leaving going to Moundville.  We feel that if the zoning was enforced, then we would have the right number of students to get the correct teacher units we need to keep the school open."  Board members had tossed around the idea of making the high school K-12, but say they determined it would be too costly to add additional classrooms and bussing the 9th to 12th graders to other high schools would be more financially feasible.  Superitendent Stegall admits some students are exempt to attend schools outside Akron, but adds fewer than 50 do so.  The changes would take effect next sc hool year.  Parents are having serious meetings with attorneys to see if there is anything legal to reverse the decision.

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