Ellington

Due to having provided the wrong return mail address on letters sent to students currently eligible for grandfathering into existing zoning patterns when East Hamilton Middle/High School rezoning takes effect this August, officials are offering a short grace period.

“Some have been delivered by the mail, some have been emailed or scanned, but we’ve gotten a large number of responses,” said Hamilton County Assistant Superintendent Lee McDade. “We were originally hoping to get all the responses in by May 15, but if people have had problems with mail return or something we will give them some leeway.”

The forms should be mailed or dropped off at the Hamilton County Department of Education office at 3074 Hickory Valley Road as soon as possible.

McDade said all students in fifth grade and above at East Hamilton Middle/High School or current feeder schools will be eligible for grandfathering. No transportation is provided for students who grandfather, and if students change their address that grandfathering will no longer apply, he said.

Grandfathering for elementary school rezoning will not go into effect until the 2013-2014 school year when the new Ooltewah Elementary School is opened, said McDade.

Commenting on whether or not students should grandfather isn’t part of his job, said McDade.

“If they’re there and they’re happy, let them stay,” he said.

Former Red Bank High School principal Gail Chuy will replace current East Hamilton Middle/High School principal Pam Dantzler for the 2012-2013 school year. Dantzler is retiring.

For more information about rezoning visit www.hcde.org or call 209-8400.