Redistricting Discussion Blog Entry #1 - Information from the January 14th Board of Education Mid-Year Retreat

Redistricting Discussion
• Redistricting of Northwood district: The Board members expressed concern that parent meetings have not been held with Moncure families about the possibility of converting Moncure from a K-8 school to a traditional elementary (K-5) school. With regard to redistricting of Northwood feeder schools, the Board was in consensus to “leave it on the table for exploration” and pursue learning more about the impacts (including transportation, staffing, services, and fiscal) of redistricting of the Northwood feeder schools including a Pittsboro Elementary, Horton, and Moncure grade configuration change. (Gary Leonard preferred to leave the configurations as they currently are.) Central office administration will now explore more deeply aspects of a reconfiguration and include information as a scenario (option) in its upcoming budget discussions between now and March. The Board wants included in the budget options where other services would be lost without redistricting. Equity of services the district is able to offer to students in K-8 schools versus middle schools is one of the “arguments” for moving from K-8 to elementary/middle school configurations. Examples of areas of concern include staffing, programs, and athletics.

• Redistricting of schools in the JM district: Four of the Board members agreed to “leave it on the table for exploration” and discussion. Gary Leonard preferred to leave the configurations as they currently are.

• Redistricting of schools in the Central district: Four of the Board members agreed to “leave it on the table for exploration” and discussion. Gary Leonard preferred to leave the configurations as they currently are.

Board of Education presentation files from this meeting are posted here under II.A.:  http://bit.ly/ejss9o