But "we are going to present this compromise as a way of stopping the board from implementing Option One," she added.
Option One is a reorganization plan approved by the school board during its May public meeting that would eliminate local elementary schools in Swarthmore and Nether Providence Township beginning in September 1991.
The coalition was formed in May by local parents opposed to the board- approved plan, under which the district's kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school, two kindergarten-through-fifth-grade schools and one middle school would be reorganized as two kindergarten-through-second-grade schools, one third-through-fifth-grade school and one sixth-through-eighth-grade school.
District officials said the reorganization was necessary to help curb rising school taxes and meet growing enrollment needs.
Coalition members, who were opposed to the plan because it would require students to change schools every three years and would bus their children outside their communities, now feel they have a better plan.
The coalition's compromise plan would reorganize the schools as one kindergarten-through-fifth-grade school, two first-through-fifth-grade schools, and one common sixth-through-eighth-grade school.
Though that plan would require Swarthmore students in grades 6 through 8 to be bused to Nether Providence Middle School and some Nether Providence students to be bused to an elementary school in Swarthmore, supporters say it is less disruptive than the school board's plan, in which every child would be affected.
Many Swarthmore parents who prefer their kindergarten-to-eighth-grade school rather than the common district middle school did not vote in favor of the coalition compromise.
Stephanie Harper, a leader of the group opposed to the coalition compromise, said her committee would continue to fight to keep Swarthmore's students in grades 6 through 8 in a Swarthmore school.
Coalition members plan to present the compromise plan for consideration at the board's next meeting, 8 p.m. June 25 at Strath Haven High School.
