Residents of Barrington Hills and The Dells told Warsaw Schools they'd prefer to have their children stay at Harrison Elementary School.
However, if they must go to another school, some residents would prefer if the two subdivisions go to the same school. And because the new Madison will be closer than the new Leesburg, some parents said they'd prefer their children go to Madison.Those were just some of the concerns parents expressed at the third listening session Tuesday night at Harrison.
School officials presented two draft scenarios for redistricting of Warsaw Community Schools, "Orange" and "Black". The two drafts are similar with slight variations to five of the school boundaries. Three school boundaries remain unchanged for both scenarios - Claypool, Washington and Lincoln.
In scenario "Orange", students in Barrington Hills and The Dells will go to Madison. Scenario "Black" has Barrington Hills children going to Leesburg, and The Dells children going to Madison.
Shamrock Mobile Home Park children will go to Harrison in Orange. In Black, they will go to Madison.
In Orange, the Willie's East Ridge subdivision area goes to Jefferson. The subdivision children will go to Harrison in Black.
The northern boundary of Eisenhower is curvier in Orange, but the southern boundary of Jefferson dips farther south and is more linear in Black.
The estimated student population for each school varies slightly in both scenarios too.
In Orange and Black, enrollment at Claypool is estimated to be at 404; 409 at Lincoln; and 370 for Washington.
For Eisenhower, student count is projected at 535 in scenario Orange, but 481 in Black. The other school counts are estimated at 516 for Harrison in Orange, 543 in Black; 415 for Jefferson in Orange, 394 in Black; 500 for Leesburg in Orange, 538 in Black; and 542 at Madison in Orange, but 552 in Black.
Superintendent Dr. Craig Hintz opened the listening session with a presentation about the redistricting process.
"Our outcome for you is that you are informed, you are listened to and have the opportunity to give feedback," Hintz said.
While they are presenting two redistricting scenarios, Hintz said nothing is decided, that's why WCS is listening to the public.
WCS is redistricting because of new school construction. An expanded and renovated Claypool Elementary, new Madison and Leesburg elementaries, and an expanded and improved Jefferson all are expected to be open for the 2010-2011 school year. Claypool has been closed since 2004.
"Our hope is that the boundaries we present and recommend can stand the test of time," said Hintz.
The redistricting process began in September. After the 10 listening sessions, the school board will have one to two public work sessions. At the Jan. 25 school board meeting, Hintz said, a recommendation to the school board on the redistricting is expected to be given. If all goes well, parents will be notified via letter Feb. 1 where their children will attend school.
Some of the advantages of Orange, according to Hintz's presentation, are that Claypool will reopen with three sections, better balanced enrollments, the Gifted and Talented program remains at Lincoln, eliminates portable classrooms and decreases enrollment at Harrison and Eisenhower. The disadvantages are that there will be 27.3 percent student movement and the middle level enrollments are out of balance.
Advantages for the Black scenario are that Claypool will reopen as a three-section school, the G/T program remains at Lincoln, no Harrison students will cross US 30, eliminates portable classrooms, decreases enrollment of Harrison and Eisenhower and a lower percentage of student change. The disadvantages include middle school level enrollments out of balance, Shamrock students will cross railroad tracks and it limits enrollment at Jefferson.
After Assistant to the Superintendent Chris Gensinger presented the variations of scenarios Orange and Black, Hintz said much of the Warsaw School District is centrally located. Students will have to move north and south to populate the other schools like Claypool, Madison and Leesburg.
At the Monday night listening session at Jefferson Elementary, Hintz said Jefferson parents made a request that enrollment at Jefferson be increased. Jefferson parents asked for another 40 students to their enrollment, he said.
After Hintz reviewed expected average class size numbers, teacher count and transfers, many of the 120 people at the meeting broke up into smaller groups to discuss issues and concerns.
Some of the other concerns expressed by parents in the small groups included traffic on CR 300N to Ind. 15, crossing railroad tracks and US 30, bus pick-up, grandfathering sixth-graders in, balancing socio-economic status, middle schools, babysitters, balancing the number of English as a Second Language students in each school, children with disabilities, and keeping bus rides short.
More information on the redistricting and updates can be found online at www.warsaw.k12.in.us Questions, comments and suggestions also can be e-mailed to welisten@warsaw.k12.in.us
