GORHAM – With a new elementary school scheduled to open in September, the Gorham School Committee has approved new attendance zones determining which school students would attend.

The new, $21 million school on Sebago Lake Road, which will house kindergarten through Grade 5, will replace the aging White Rock School, which will be closed. Under restructuring, the school department is upgrading the configuration of classes at two existing elementary schools so the district would have three elementary schools housing kindergarten through Grade 5.

The big switch means that not all Gorham elementary students would attend the Village School for grades 3-5, as they do now. Under the new plan, students would attend one school throughout their elementary years.

A switch to three K-5 schools revamps the entire Gorham elementary system. White Rock on North Gorham Road now has only kindergarten through the second grade, as does Narragansett School on Main Street. The Village School on Robie Street now has grades 3 through 5.

Dennis Libby, chairman of the School Committee, said this week the changes would impact two-thirds of the town’s families, as well as staff and teachers.

Libby said the new attendance zones were determined by a process based on safety, class sizes, bus routes, distances and traffic.

It was “more than drawing a line on a piece of paper,” said Libby, who added school officials were assisted by a computer program in designing the zones.

Libby said planning for the transition began three years ago.

“It’s been a long, thought-out process,” Libby said.

Under the new plan, Libby said, the model calls for 250 students at Narragansett School, 420 at Village School and 480 at the new school. The re-structuring also eases crowding at two existing schools.

The Village School now has an enrollment of 594, and Narragansett School has 443. White Rock, built with a capacity of 87 students, now has 152.

Superintendent Ted Sharp said principals at the three schools are Brian Porter, who would remain the principal at Village School; Polly Brann, who stays at Narragansett School; and Jane Esty, who now is administrative principal at Village School, would head the new school.

In a letter earlier this fall to parents, Sharp said that Brann, an assistant principal, had succeeded Brad Smith, former principal at both Narragansett and White Rock schools. Smith left in October for a position as assistant superintendent at School Administrative District 75.

Libby said the next step is working on bus routes for the new attendance zones.

Norm Justice, director of facilities and transportation, expects the routes to be announced in late March or April. Justice said some parents have called with concerns about buses stopping at day care centers.

“We will be busing from all licensed family care and day cares to all schools. A student’s home address will determine their school of attendance. If they go to a day care in a different attendance area, we’ll be busing the student to their school,” Justice said.

Revamped bus schedules could potentially impact students at the high school and middle school. “We’re looking at all bus routing,” Justice said.

The new school has yet to be named, but Libby said the School Committee has recommended Great Falls School. Libby said the Town Council would have to approve the naming.

Libby said the new school is expected to be ready for opening day of school in September.

“We’re keeping close tabs on progress,” he said.

Implementation of the new elementary plan hinges on the readiness of the new school on opening day in September. Completion of construction is targeted for late July.

The new school is designed for 550 students, “Construction is proceeding fine, “ Justice said.

Under a revised plan for Gorham’s entire elementary school system, children living in the blue area, on the map above, will attend the new elementary school when school opens in September; children in the yellow zone will attend Village School; and those in the purple area will attend Narragansett School.Map courtesy of Gorham School Department