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As the Redistricting Committee plans to hold its third meeting Tuesday, still relatively early in the process aimed at producing a map by June, some parents continue to say the goals are hazy while superintendent says she has been clear about the aims.
Responding to four parents who spoke to the School Committee at public participation Thursday, Jan. 12 -- one of whom said redistricting may not be needed -- Superintendent Kathleen Bodie defended the process.
"I written about this and talked about it, and the goals are clear," she said, reiterating goals that are part of information at the schools' website, including the state's requiring the Thompson to have 380 students when it opens in September 2013. "We do have schools that are crowded," she said.
[In an email to Thompson parents and guardians Jan. 16, Bodie restated the goals and provided background. Read it here >>]
Cindy Starks, committee chair, supported Bodie's view, citing the need for equity among the seven elementary schools. She said the School Committee has been concerned about this issue "for years."
They were responding to parent comments made earlier in the meeting.
Parents' comments
Len Kardon cited discussion of the original vote to pursue redistricting, in May 2010, and said there was "no discussion of what was inequitable." He questioned the need for the process (see his full comments below).
Gami Maislin, who has two children at Dallin, said she and her husband "are willing to support a plan that we truly feel is best for the town .... However, with the information we have been given thus far, we can’t thoroughly understand the real underlying problem to begin with" (full comments below).
Mark Baranoff, with two children at Brackett, referred to a letter sent in December asking for more data. Asking for acknowledgment of the letter, he asked, "What would a positive resolution [of the redistricting issue] look like?"
Parent Jay Negro also spoke.
The School Committee's Redistricting Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday, Jan. 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the School Committee Room, sixth floor, Arlington High School. See agenda >>
Kardon comments:
"Hello, I’m Len Kardon and I’m also here to talk about redistricting. Let me first note that I’m am not personally affected by any of the proposed map versions, but given the potential disruptions to the Dallin community I am part of, I think all of us are affected. I want to briefly raise a few points that merit consideration by you as school committee members, who voted (except Mr. Hayner [who wasn't then on the committee]) back in May 2010 to undertake a redistricting.
"I was watching that meeting and recall only a cursory discussion of the need for redistricting. Your vote refers to a need to distribute enrollment more equitably' but there really was no discussion of what was inequitable.
"Instead, the Superintendent made reference to a long-standing need or desire to redistrict – sort of conventional wisdom that it needed to be done, without anyone questioning why. I think parents and the redistricting committee are really struggling with this, as a closer examination of the actual number of classrooms available at the supposedly overcrowded schools shows no actual current overcrowding.
"This isn’t like Winchester, that had to bring in portable classrooms and use music rooms and stuff. Some people have raised unequal class sizes as the inequality, but the biggest inequalities in class sizes tend to be within a school, not between schools.
"At Bishop for example, the 2nd grade has classes of only 19 kids while the kindergarten class sizes went up to 25 – something redistricting cannot by itself address. (I’ll discuss buffer zones next). So I think there is a lot of head scratching about what exactly is the problem that you are trying to solve? Perhaps it's that some schools are full and cannot support additional entering kindergarten cohorts of 4 classes of kids, but that is a prospective problem, not one that necessitates moving out kids who are already at those schools.
"So what about buffer zones? Well, that is really a separate issue from redistricting. They would be a fundamental change in the way Arlington assigns kids to elementary schools. It is certainly something you might want the redistricting committee or administration to research and consider, but that is really separate from moving existing students between schools.
"I’m only aware of buffer zones being used in Brookline and a small portion of Newton so I doubt it’s a panacea. You need to balance the uncertainty it creates for those whose homes fall within a buffer zone against the benefits of somewhat more balanced class sizes, and it seems administratively complex.
"Finally, I would like to correct some misimpressions about those of us asking lots of questions about redistricting or criticizing the redistricting process.
"It is easy to write them off as parents affected by redistricting in fear of change who will of course oppose it but who will be fine once it is all done. In talking with them, most of them would grudgingly accept changing their kid’s school if there was actual overcrowding to be relieved and there was a well thought out and rational plan to redistrict, but that is far from what is happening here.
"I hope that as individual school committee members, you will encourage Dr. Bodie and Ms. Heigham, your representative on the redistricting committee, to take a step back and work with committee to first figure out the 'what' and 'why' of the redistricting and, develop all the necessary data before jumping in and drafting map after map. Thank you.
Maislin comments:
"My name is Gami Maislin, I have two kids at Dallin and I have been helping to organize the concerned parents across all of the Arlington districts with respect to the current redistricting effort. I sent you this letter urging greater transparency and more data sharing in the Redistricting process last month representing 135 concerned parents. That letter today represents 163 parents and the number is growing.
"So you might be thinking, 'What's the deal with attacking the process, all you guys really care about is keeping your kids in their same schools, resisting change and keeping the status quo.' I submit that the answer to this question is No.
"As difficult as it would be, my husband and I would personally support a solution that solves fundamental problems for Arlington for the good of Arlington students and teachers, even if that meant we would be redistricted. We don’t want to force our kids into a school if that means the loss of valuable resources like a music or science room for the whole student body. We wouldn’t want to fight for our kids staying in one school if that means that the kids across town lose a safe walk to school, or if it means that there is greatly added stress on the amazing teachers. That’s why your 4 most affected districts are working together, because we care about each other’s children.
"We are willing to support a plan that we truly feel is best for the town and its lovely students and dedicated teachers and administrators. We are willing to support a plan that is best for Arlington of 20 years in the future when our kids are in College. However, with the information we have been given thus far, we can’t thoroughly understand the real underlying problem to begin with nor can we have faith that the decisions are being made with correct data, reasonable predictions, and our most important concerns being taken into account.
"Please do not permit convenience to erode our confidence—work with us to find creative solutions to keep our children safe, our schools vibrant, and our community spirit strong."
All links | Redistricting FAQ | School website Dec. 20: Draft map No. 2 >> (large .PDF)
Nov. 18: First draft released | Dec. 14: Map revamped | Parents' website
Redistricting timeline: process aims for June recommendation
As the Redistricting Committee had its second meeting Tuesday, Dec. 13, the School Committee has received a timeline for the process.
December- February: Discuss appropriateness of proposed new district lines in draft map. Develop draft map No. 2, which includes buffer areas around district lines. [Buffers are border areas that allow the administration flexibility to choose which district a student may attend.]
Maintain in draft map No. 2 capacity targets at each school.
March: Solicit parent feedback on draft map in forums based at each six current elementary schools.
April-May: Review parental feedback. Make adjustments to draft map while maintaining capacity targets for each school. Review map with community relations subcommittee.
June: Recommended map with new elementary district lines sent to School Committee for approval.
The members of the committee are:
Administration: Superintendent Kathleen Bodie and Chief Financial Officer Diane Johnson
Bishop School: Mark McAneny, principal; and Dorothy Commons, parent representative
Brackett School: Stephanie Zerchykov, principal; and Roly Chaput, parent representative
Dallin School: Tara Rossi, principal; and Lauren Boyle, parent representative
Hardy School: Deborah D’Amico, principal; and Ned Hall, parent representative
Peirce School: Karen Hartley, principal; Charlie Radoslovich, parent representative; and Cate Oranchak, parent representative alternate
Stratton School/Thompson School: Sheryl Donovan, principal; and/or Jackie Daley, Stratton School liaison; and Chuck Hannon, Stratton School parent representative
Thompson: Greg Watt, parent representative
School Committee representative, Leba Heigham
Town GIS coordinator: Adam Kurowski
Each School Council voted its own representative.
This story was published Sunday, Jan. 15, 2012, and updated two days later.
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