Public hearing on Stafford school redistricting postponed

The public hearing for Stafford school redistricting plans scheduled for tonight is postponed to February 24 at 6p.m.

This public hearing is one of many held by the Stafford School Board in the past month, as they make plans to implement three redistricting plans – two for elementary schools, one for middle schools – for the upcoming 2015 school year.

According to Patricia Healey, a School Board member in the Rock Hill District, the redistricting plans are a way to distribute students more evenly across the county, as some of the schools are experiencing overcrowding.

“We have different reasons that the schools get more populated. Some of it is because of people moving into the neighborhood. Some if it is because of [the location of] new homes being built. And sometimes it’s just the way that the neighborhoods age out,” Healey said, continuing, “I think we have the capacity in our schools – in our elementary and our middle schools – we have the capacity. I just think that it’s not where the students are today.”

The redistricting planning process began last summer, and committees comprised of school administrators and parents have been regularly meeting for the past several months to develop options for the redistricting.

More than 13 redistricting options were offered to the public at the previous public hearings, and the postponed meeting is meant to address the most recent proposal for elementary school redistricting. The committees have already made their recommendations to the School Board.

“The public hearings were a chance for the public, mainly the parents and in some case the students, to take a look at the proposals that were being considered, and come to the [Stafford] School Board and give us their feedback,” said Healey.

There have been several parents with concerns about the changes ahead for their students, including transportation and adapting to a new school environment.

“It is an extremely emotional process because we are talking about children that are between 5 and 11 years old that will have to adjust to a new school environment. There have been concerns expressed by residents that live in the neighborhoods that are proposed to be moved. I certainly understand and have empathy for their concerns. My commitment to them is I want to do everything in my power to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible and the well-being of the children is the number one priority,” said Scott Hirons, School Board member for the Falmouth District.

Another hurdle that the schools may face is increased transportation cost, to move students to different locations in the county, but Healey does not feel that there will be a major cost increase.

“Ultimately I doubt that it’s going to require any more buses because we’re still moving the same number of students, from their homes to the schools. It’s just that some of them will be going to a different location,” said Healey.

The original plan was to have the School Board move forward with a vote for action at their February 24 meeting, but will be moved due to the postponing of the public hearing.