More elementaries: is that the answer?

Batavia's school board president pondered if more elementary schools could be the answer to the district's boundary problems last week.

"I can't be moving 30 kids every two years," said Ron Link at a meeting to discuss a boundary change for next year. "It doesn't affect just them. It affects their friends, everyone in their class, their families."

He asked if an additional school on each side of the river could alleviate future boundary changes, and also that the district complete a comprehensive facilities study.

Superintendent Jack Barshinger said such a study would take a year or two.

"We don't want to get the same place with the elementary schools as we've been sitting with the high school for three or four years," he said.

Under the details of a boundary proposal, three of the district's six elementary schools would be using every classroom. The other three would be close.

"I don't see a long-term solution in this," Link said.

Board member Matt Winkle asked if schools could handle the current students for another year while the district studies the issues.

Administrators had suggested moving students in the Amli apartments on Kirk Road from Louise White School to J.B. Nelson School, and moving students between Main and Wilson streets, as well as Randall Road and the Fox River, from Grace McWayne School to Alice Gustafson School.

The school board plans to discuss the issue more at its Feb. 26 meeting and possibly vote on a boundary plan March 18.

Sports book reviews: ESPN editor and sports writer Lester Munson will review two new sports books at Books Between Bites, at noon Thursday at the library.

He will speak on "Ruffian," by William Nack, about a famous horse racing filly, as well as "The Entitled," a novel by Frank Deford that discusses celebrity and crime in the sport of baseball.

Patrons can bring their lunch to the talk. There will be beverages for sale.

Global warming talk: An expert on climate change will give a talk at Fermilab next week.

David Carlson, professor of oceanography at Oregon State University, will give a lecture, "Exploring the Polar Regions at a Critical Time," at 7 p.m. Feb. 28 in Ramsey Auditorium.

Carlson's one-hour talk will be followed by a panel discussion on global warming.

His presentation will cover the rate of climate change, the effects of global warming, and how to slow it.

lhague@dailyherald.com