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Reddick Elementary School Opens In Wimauma

Tribune photo by LOIS KINDLE

Assistant Principal Yolanda Guerra makes sure a student's bus paperwork is correct.

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By LOIS KINDLE | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 19, 2008

WIMAUMA - Just before 7 a.m. Monday, Evi Gonzalez and his wife, Marlen, sat waiting for assistance in the Reddick Elementary School office. With them were their sons Ryan, 6, and Evi Jr., 5.

The couple thought their children were supposed to go to Cypress Creek Elementary, where Ryan was a student last year. They assumed Evi would be enrolled there but were taken by surprise when they got a notice in the mail. Both boys were to become Reddick students.

The Gonzalez family was not the only one confused by the change of assignments. Scores of others encountered similar problems and had to wait in line for help at the start of the school day. But the Reddick support staff swarmed to register the children involved and help parents figure out their transportation needs.

By 10 a.m., the line had thinned and 491 students were in their classrooms. The enrollment was a bit less than the 550 to 600 originally expected, said Principal J. Thomas Roth, but there were several factors involved.

"Traditionally, in this area, there are some parents who don't bring their children until the second or third day," he said. "[The first day of school] sneaks up on them. I'm anticipating another 50 or so by Wednesday."

By 2:15 p.m., school officials had figured out the appropriate buses for students needing a ride home, and dismissal, which was a bit frenetic at first, went quickly and smoothly.

Bus driver Victor Rodriguez expressed concern that he had more children on his vehicle in the afternoon than he had in the morning, but that was because many students rode to school with their parents.

"We did it," said one teacher about the completion of the first day.
And for the first time since 6 a.m., Roth relaxed, enjoying the moment.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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