Linked here are the prepared remarks I brought and read at the October 10, 2005 School Board meeting to explain my vote on tonight's redistricting decision. I read them almost verbatim during discussion of two separate motions.
First, Pam Moynihan and Sue Friedman moved that the School Board approve the Superintendent's original July 14, 2005 redistricting plan. During discussion of that motion, Steve Koleszar moved to amend the plan by adding areas 4 & 7 from Meriwether to send them to the Albemarle HS feeder pattern. I seconded that amendment and made comments to support it. That amendment motion failed 2-5 (Koleszar & Wheeler voting in favor).
Then I voted AGAINST the final redistricting proposal put forward by my colleagues (the Superintendent's original plan WITHOUT Crozet and Northfields adjustments) because in my view it was indefensible (it passed 6-1, Wheeler voting against) and I made a second set of remarks.
Comments welcome. Brian Wheeler
Two comments jumped out at me from yesterday's HooK article (not yet online).
First - that Dr. Castner was not at the meeting. Who spoke on his behalf?
Second - that students will be bused to Henley that is 14 miles away, rather than Jouett, that is 4 miles away ... how is this not in clear contract to Dr. Castner's interest in "capacity and proximity"?
Sadly, it appears that yet again, money talks. Please correct me if I am wrong or misguided in my assumptions and conclusions.
Posted by: Jim Duncan | October 14, 2005 at 10:46 AM
Jim - Thanks for writing. As our Acting Superintendent, Dr. Pam Moran was at the meeting. Dr. Moran and staff are fully informed about Dr. Castner's views on redistricting and more than capable to represent him on this front. I didn't have any concerns about this.
However, the middle school change you mention is a clear problem with the proximity objective and I made that point in the
deliberations. While that is one of the only examples of proximity problems in the approved plan, it is a highly significant one and the plan lost my support as a result. Brian
Posted by: bawheeler | October 15, 2005 at 06:34 AM