The School Board began its discussions of redistricting at the August 25th meeting this past week. Only one set of specific changes was discussed in the Board's deliberations and they related to the current Meriwether Elementary district. Staff provided data that showed the impact of redistricting additional parts of Meriwether to Jouett/AHS. Most of these neighborhoods were previously recommended by the Redistricting Committee to be sent to Agnor-Hurt or Greer. In Dr. Castner's proposal to the School Board, a smaller part of Meriwether would switch to Agnor-Hurt/Greer, however the remaining neighborhoods currently in the split feeder pattern and attending Jouett Middle School today would switch to Henley. Dr. Castner identified these neighborhoods as ones that may be switched back to Jouett/AHS in the future.
Dr. Castner described these areas for future redistricting as follows:
"During their deliberations, the Redistricting Committee identified areas that may be subject to future redistricting to alleviate overcrowding in some schools. Although I did not include these areas in my recommendations, I do recognize that if buildings become overcrowded, the identified areas are logical areas for change. The following changes would be considered if over capacity situations become an issue..."
Included in the list of 8 areas around the County were three in the Meriwether district (called areas #3, #4, #7) as follows:
- #3. Transfer from Meriwether Lewis/Henley/WAHS to Greer/Jouett/AHS Garth Road between Free Union Road and Barracks Farm Road = 1 E; 3 M; 1 H
- #4. Transfer from Meriwether Lewis/Henley/WAHS to Greer/Jouett/AHS Barracks Farm Road and Ivy Farm Subdivision = 15 E; 10 M; 14 H
- #7. Transfer from Meriwether Lewis/Henley/WAHS to Agnor-Hurt/Jouett/AHS Woodlands Road between Reas Ford Road and Free Union Road, to include BeauMont Farm Subdivision = 21 E; 15 M; 11 H
Dr. Castner describes his plan as a more conservative approach to redistricting that may last us 5 years. He thought the Committee's plan was an attempt at a 10 year solution. The School Board discussed the challenge of projecting when and where the growth will happen in Albemarle and how many new or relocated students that will bring to any given school.
One of my goals has always been to get a redistricting proposal that is long lasting in its adjustments and that eliminates as many splits as possible. I acknowledge that the Committee’s work shows that achieving this goal means moving more students up front to get families into improved feeder patterns that accommodate growth in the County. I think Dr. Castner’s advice that we can redistrict fewer students today, while at the same time acknowledging more will have to move tomorrow, is one approach. As noted above, the recommendation singles out several areas from Meriwether that would be the “logical areas for change” as we grow in Western Albemarle (Flordon/Farmington in the Murray district also on that list). However, I think this more conservative recommendation has some implications that this board needs to consider very carefully.
Let me highlight one in particular… In reviewing the proposal, I was surprised to see we are proposing to send middle school students from Jouett to a more distant Henley while at the same time leaving a cloud of uncertainty over those neighborhoods that says, in effect, “We may have to come back to this and send you back to Jouett/Albemarle in the years ahead.” That uncertainty is why I voted against the proposal to eliminate the Meriwether split feeder pattern last year. There is no doubt in my mind that these neighborhoods in the areas mentioned above will one day go to the schools closest to their neighborhoods, and those schools are Greer/Agnor-Hurt, Jouett and Albemarle. The growth in Crozet is going to force both the Murray and Meriwether feeder patterns to change shape in the years ahead, even more than what has been proposed by Dr. Castner.
If you look at the list of proposed and current housing developments used by the Redistricting Committee and Dr. Castner in isolation, you can easily conclude about 50% of the development is coming up Route 29 North. However, this report does not include Old Trail Village or Wickham Pond (two developments in Crozet submitted after the committee started its work). It also does not include the proposed development at the Breeden Farm (south of I-64 near Mill Creek and 5th Street). The Breeden Farm alone could be larger than all of the growth projected for Crozet (i.e. there could be housing for more than 12,000 people, the number projected for Crozet). So we have developments coming all over the County, and it won't be easy to predict when the homes will be built and how many students they will deliver to our schools. Just as Dr. Castner and the committee made projections about where development would occur (e.g. we made seats available at Sutherland in this plan), the School Board will now review those conclusions and look at the most current development plans for Albemarle. There are numerous other issues I will take under consideration including: transportation costs/efficiency/safety; diversity of student population; capacity conflicts, etc.
Dr. Castner mentioned in his remarks Thursday how he thought it was a very smart decision we made to expand Henley to accommodate 900 students in anticipation of this new growth in Crozet. I agree. Along those lines, I think we need to think long term about our feeder patterns and get families into neighborhood schools where they can have a sense of certainty, particularly when it comes to which HS they will attend. I voted to support the renovation and expansion of AHS for this very reason.
So the School Board didn't make a decision Thursday and our discussion will continue at a special meeting Tuesday afternoon. We requested additional information on projections from new developments (Belvedere Farm, Wickham Pond, Old Trail Village) and updated enrollment numbers reflecting 2005 actuals. With this information, I believe we will be better informed before we finalize the Board’s proposal for public comment. I am searching for a solution that is in the best interests of all our residents.
Brian Wheeler
Brian -
Thanks for the post. Is there any consideration in this proposal at all for the proposed elementary school in Crozet?
Posted by: Jim Duncan | August 27, 2005 at 04:27 PM
Jim - This redistricting doesn't directly involve any new schools. Henley's expansion decision in 2003 factored in Crozet's expansion in general per the master plan that was in development at the time. The Crozet Master Plan was not adopted until Dec. 2004, but Crozet was a designated growth area long before being master planned, hence the School Division's approach to be prepared with Henley and a future elementary school in Crozet. The next two elementary schools are currently called #17 and #18 and they will be built in the County in the location they are next needed. The design/construction of elementary school #17 is not expected to begin before 2010. Brownsville is about 110 students under capacity (2004-05 enrollment), so we have seats there to use in the meantime. Brian
Posted by: bawheeler | August 27, 2005 at 05:39 PM
Thank you for the quick response and the blog - there just might be something to this open government thing!
Posted by: Jim Duncan | August 27, 2005 at 06:36 PM