Huber Ridge Area

To help spread the word about possible redistricting, below is part of an email I (Pam Clegg) received that may help clarify future plans by the Westerville City School District: The following link has been posted on the WCS website concerning possible redistricting of the middle schools. http://www.westerville.k12.oh.us/administrativeDepartment.aspx?aid=116 There are five possible changes being considered. I encourage you to check out this information (which includes an audio file) and educate yourselves rather than depend upon heresay and rumour, forward this information to your members and other parents in the district so they will be informed as well, then respectfully share your opinions and suggestions with the Westerville School Board members. As Westerville continues to grow our school district grows and change is inevitable. Your input is invaluable. If after reviewing this information you have questions for Dr. Good/the Administration, please consider filling out a Superintendent Q&A form. Thank you for your help in spreading awareness about this possible redistricting. Kindest regards, Allison Allison M. de Nijs President, Westerville Parent Council Home: (614) 891.2001 Fax: (614) 898.9779 Cell: (614) 214.8511 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Information below was taken from the Westerville City School District website. Please go to the website to view map options A-E and to click on the feedback form. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Middle School Boundary Information The Westerville City School District Board of Education is considering two possible options to address capacity issues at the middle school level. Of the district??™s four middle schools, two are over capacity (Genoa 8% over; Walnut Springs 9% over) while two are under capacity (Blendon 3% under; Heritage 10% under). District officials are working with Cropper GIS, a firm specializing in the use of Geographic Information Systems for educational facility planning, to identify possible adjustments to middle school boundaries that will: * Balance enrollment, * Balance student demographics, * Improve transportation efficiency, * Consider the percentage of students impacted, and * Consider non-contiguous zones (e.g., assign neighborhood areas to the same school). This web page has been created to house links and information pertaining to the middle school boundary realignment process. Visitors also have the ability to provide feedback to the Westerville City Schools Board of Education and district leadership team members involved in the decision-making process. Click here to provide feedback. (wcsba@wcsoh.org)

Option E singles out two neighborhoods and unfairly splits kids away from their friends and the community.

 

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/wcsredistricting/

 

 

Dear Stephan,

 

Thank you, for taking the time to examine the options.  I hope you will express your concerns as WCS requested, and you will also communicate which option you feel is best.  That is the kind of feedback that is particularly needed - the best option.

 

Warm Regards,

 Pam Clegg

 

 

 

 

Just received in an email today:

 

Dear Westerville City School District Staff and Community:

The WCSD Board of Education is considering options to address capacity issues at the middle school level. Of the district’s four middle schools, two are over capacity (Genoa 8 % over and Walnut Springs 9% over) while two are under capacity (Blendon 3% under and Heritage 10% under). We are in a position where neither Genoa nor Walnut Springs facilities can accommodate the required curricular offerings for the anticipated number of students next year if we were to keep our current middle school boundaries as they are today.

Our district annually reviews building use and capacities, attendance patterns, and operational efficiencies. As a result, realignments in various forms have been occurring for decades. As our student population increased and new schools were built, the Board of Education reviewed and considered how best to balance enrollment, balance student demographics, improve transportation efficiency, consider the percentage of students impacted, and consider having contiguous neighborhood zones attend the same school. The time has come once again to determine our future direction while considering these same variables. Given our current situation, student capacity is the driving force behind an urgent and much-needed solution for our middle school population.

District officials have been working with Cropper GIS, a firm specializing in the use of Geographic Information Systems for educational facility planning, to identify possible adjustments to middle school boundaries. Those findings were presented during a Board of Education meeting held March 14, and the information was placed on the district’s web site, www.wcsoh.org. Community and staff members were notified and encouraged to provide input in the spirit of respect, innovation, and collaboration.

I am happy to report that we received hundreds of greatly appreciated comments, ideas, thoughts and suggestions from staff and community members. As a result, two new short-term options have been formulated for the 2011-2012 school year. The Board of Education will be discussing these options and any changes to these options at the Work Session at 6 p.m. on April 11, 2011, at Westerville South High School. These new options, Option F and Option G, will be considered to help alleviate overcrowding at the middle schools in the short term only. These new options are available on the district’s web site.

In addition to a short-term middle school boundary solution, we will be recommending an inclusive process, with the formation of a Redistricting Committee to begin summer 2011, to review long range enrollment data and students’ building assignments across all grade levels.

There will be ongoing opportunities for you to share your thoughts and provide feedback as we proceed together in this process.

Sincerely,

Mark Hershiser
Assistant Superintendent/COO