Stafford School Board faces tough elementary redistricting decision

STAFFORD — Leaders on the Stafford County School Board face a tough political decision if they want the funds to buy a shuttered Christian school.

The School Board earlier this year requested the Board of Supervisors, which funds the schools, give $10 million to buy the old Fredericksburg Christian School building off Garrisonville Road in North Stafford, and include the cost of renovations in this year’s Capital Improvement Plan.

The purchase of FCS and its planned use as a northern campus for the schools’ head start program allow for the removal of 20 Head Start classrooms from elementary schools and relocating them to the new facility and the Gari Melchers Complex in southern Stafford County. This makes approximately 473 elementary seats available for use by Kindergarten through fifth grades.

In the agreement between the two boards, the School Board now  must re-district some elementary schools around the county. For example, the move would alleviate crowded classrooms at Hampton Oaks Elementary School while sending students to schools like Rock Hill Elementary School which is under capacity.

But the issue some School Board members see with redistricting is that a school like Rock Hill which is located only four miles from Hampton Oaks would add a 30 minute to an hour bus ride for some students that have to transfer to Rock Hill.

The discussion of redistricting was brought up by the Board of Supervisors during its July 10 meeting. Elected officials there were concerned that the School Board was ignoring the crowding problem at county schools.

Falmouth District Supervisor and Board Chairman Meg Bohmke wrote a letter to the school board about the issue of redistricting following the July 10 Board of Supervisors meeting.

“I am asking our Chairman to hopefully draft a letter letting the School Board know that buying Fredericksburg Christian will be contingent on this redistricting plan,” Wendy Maurer, Rock Hill Supervisor, said.

The School Board held a work session on July 18 to discuss the redistricting plan. The redistricting will go into effect during the 2019-2020 school year.

During the 2018-2019 year, five of the 17 elementary schools — Falmouth, Hampton Oaks, Hartwood, Margaret Brent, and Winding Creek — will be over capacity.

In 2019-2020 six elementary schools will be over capacity — Falmouth, Hampton Oaks, Hartwood, Margaret Brent, Rocky Run, and Winding Creek.

Mark Dudenhefer, Garrisonville Supervisor, called redistricting the “hardest thing an elected official can do.”

“We just finished a work session and the last part of that is what I would call a brainstorming session with the School Board to discuss our plans, our goals and potential avenues on how to reach that with respect to redistricting,” said Patricia Healy, School Board Chairman.

According to Healy, she believes that there is a general consensus, assuming the school board acquires FCS that it will free up the room in the County’s elementary schools.

“There is a desire and a plan to do a redistricting and look for outside assistance from staff recognizing that staff is limited and have a lot of other things going on,” Healy said. “We asked Mrs. Kahle (acting Superintendent) to bring back some proposals for us at our next meeting.”

Healy also recognized that newly appointed Superintendent Dr. Kinzer redistricted Harrisonburg schools and is hoping that he will step up to the challenge.

“We hope for minimal pain… but the results will hopefully be well worth it to everyone once it’s done.” Healy said.