Redistricting discussion 4/26/10
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Apr 27, 2010, 7:31:30 AM4/27/10
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REDISTRICTING PLANS TO GO PUBLIC MAY 10
The plans would affect all elementary schools, but the consultant is doing final work on them.
By
Jennifer Connic | Email the author | April 26, 2010
Credit Jennifer Connic
Credit Jennifer Connic http://assets2.patch-assets.com/assets/photos/000/008/589/8589_collapsed.jpg?1237930512 600x450 450,450,75,0 0.183823529411765 88,88 3264x2448Zoom new Credit Jennifer ConnicPhotos (1)
Credit Jennifer Connichttp://assets2.patch-assets.com/assets/photos/000/008/589/8589_collapsed.jpg?1237930512 600x450 450,450,75,0 0.183823529411765 88,88 3264x2448Your photos, videos & PDFs:
Add | EditThe preliminary redistricting plans before the school board's Property Committee would affect all elementary schools, and those plans are expected to be released on May 10.
But no decisions have been made on redistricting, and the consultant hired to create the plans is doing the final work on them.
Michael Birnberg, Property Committee chairman, said during Monday's Board of Education meeting Ross Haber, the redistricting consultant, is to meet with school principals on Tuesday before fine-tuning the plans. The committee would receive the report next week before releasing it to the other school board members for review.
The plans would be presented to the public during the school board meeting on May 10. Haber is expected to attend the meeting to answer questions. The board would then vote on a plan on May 24. Birnberg, who was elected board president Monday night, said the plan to vote then is to allow PTOs to secure volunteers and parents to make plans for the fall.
The plan is to do the least amount of harm, Birnberg said, but the objective is to provide for the health and welfare for all students. "No one wants to move, but at some point it has to happen," he said. The reason all schools would be included is to create a plan that would be sustainable for the future.
He did say the rumors about definitive decisions on a redistricting plan are not true. Haber has provided preliminary thoughts, but Haber has yet to present a final plan. Plus the board has yet to have any discussions as a group about plans.
Scott Kamer, a board member, said the committee has told Haber how neighborhood schools are a priority for the town. The plans would be to preserve the character of the district within the space available in the schools. There wouldn't be some sort of centralization of students or busing them across the town, he said.
Parents expressed concerns about the timetable and about how short the time has been for Haber to complete a plan.
Schools Supt. Richard Brodow said he can't predict the future, but he knows the board and he will review whatever is presented carefully. He would hope there would be broad support for whatever decision is made. But no one has had a chance to discuss redistricting.
Birnberg said the board most likely would have an open forum on redistricting at the library so parents could give feedback during those two weeks between school board meetings.
Later in the meeting, Lise Chapman said she had concerns with the process and felt the board was giving too much authority to the consultant with the process. The board needs to be more open with the process to create buy-in from the community.
Since Chapman raised her concerns after the new business portion of the meeting, she made a motion to suspend the rules with the intention of making a motion for more time to be granted for discussion with the public on the redistricting plan after May 10. But she never got to make that motion because her effort to suspend the rules failed.
But two school board members said they are getting plenty of public input already on redistricting.
Eric Siegel, a Property Committee member, said his e-mail inbox has been full for days with comments from residents about redistricting. More people write him than speak out at meetings. "We're hearing your comments," he said. "We use what you write and get additional information. We're listening."
Sam Levy, a board member, said he also is receiving a number of e-mails about redistricting. Parents also have cited they found the consultant's Web site, he said, and there's nothing stopping them from e-mailing him to ask questions. E-mail is an effective way for parents to communicate their concerns.
Parents also expressed concerns about students being moved in such a way where they'd have to walk to school on hazardous roads. John Christmas, of Hobart Avenue, said Hobart and White Oak Ridge Road are not hazardous roads per the school designation, and his children would not be eligible for busing if they are moved to a different school.
Kamber said there are lots of rumors out there about plans, but nothing has been decided. Everyone has sound positions on a plan, but it's all premature until the board hears from Haber.
Jeff Waters, board vice president, said every rumor out there is wrong as of right now because they all assume something has been decided. Nothing has been decided. He encouraged parents to ignore the rumors until something is presented publicly.
School officials have been examining how to proceed with redistricting to address an overcrowded situation at
Glenwood Elementary School. Schools Supt. Richard Brodow presented a
plan to move 61 Glenwood students to
Deerfield Elementary School in February, but the board
elected to hire the consultant rather than vote on the presented plan.
Email | Share on Facebook | Share on Twitter |Following | PrintIN THIS ARTICLE
• Glenwood Elementary School325 Taylor Rd S, Short Hills, NJ
• Redistricting Plan Moves 61 Glenwood Students to DeerfieldBy
Jennifer Connic• Deerfield Elementary School26 Troy Ln, Short Hills, NJ
• BOE Plans to Hire Consultant to Analyze RedistrictingBy
Jennifer ConnicCOMMENTS (
3)
DeleteJean Pasternak12:06am on Tuesday, April 27, 2010Jen
Please update to include Lise Chapman's motion to change the rules so that she could introduce another motion as new business to allow the Board to vote definitively on having public comment (task force, public meeting on a Sunday afternoon , or whatever the BOE deemed appropriate) prior to May 10th when the plan is going to be made public. 4 members votes no to this motion: Levy, Birnberg, Kamber, Seigel and 4 voted yes: Chapman, Wenik, Waters, Fox therefore the motion did not pass.
ReplyJennifer Connic12:14am on Tuesday, April 27, 2010I hadn't gotten a chance to add that information to the story yet.
DeleteJean Pasternak7:14am on Tuesday, April 27, 2010Thank you Jennifer. The point that is missing here is input from the community sought mainly via emails and public comments at the BOE meetings limits the problem solving that could happen through an appropriate, representative citizens advisory group that could have been formed when redistricting (and other critical matters) first arose. A group with representatives from each school or neighborhood, for example, could offer advice and nuances specific to their constituency and would help the Board with communication BOTH ways, giving and receiving information to bring back to the community. Some Board members are more open to input from the community than others. The voters just elected with a large percentage vote Lise Chapman, Michael Birnberg and Rona Wenik anad the implication from their election is that voters want not only fiscal responsibility but also more community input on critical decisions affecting our community. I am hopeful that the Board will continue to consider efficient and appropriate ways to do this. Policy concerns or perceived threats to policy should not trump a "yes" to constructive, fair community input. We are fortunate to have many talented people in our community that are willing to work together to help solve problems. Involve them!
--
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The plans would affect all elementary schools, but the consultant is doing final work on them.
By
Jennifer Connic | Email the author | April 26, 2010
Credit Jennifer Connic
Credit Jennifer Connic http://assets2.patch-assets.com/assets/photos/000/008/589/8589_collapsed.jpg?1237930512 600x450 450,450,75,0 0.183823529411765 88,88 3264x2448Zoom new Credit Jennifer ConnicPhotos (1)
Credit Jennifer Connichttp://assets2.patch-assets.com/assets/photos/000/008/589/8589_collapsed.jpg?1237930512 600x450 450,450,75,0 0.183823529411765 88,88 3264x2448Your photos, videos & PDFs:
Add | EditThe preliminary redistricting plans before the school board's Property Committee would affect all elementary schools, and those plans are expected to be released on May 10.
But no decisions have been made on redistricting, and the consultant hired to create the plans is doing the final work on them.
Michael Birnberg, Property Committee chairman, said during Monday's Board of Education meeting Ross Haber, the redistricting consultant, is to meet with school principals on Tuesday before fine-tuning the plans. The committee would receive the report next week before releasing it to the other school board members for review.
The plans would be presented to the public during the school board meeting on May 10. Haber is expected to attend the meeting to answer questions. The board would then vote on a plan on May 24. Birnberg, who was elected board president Monday night, said the plan to vote then is to allow PTOs to secure volunteers and parents to make plans for the fall.
The plan is to do the least amount of harm, Birnberg said, but the objective is to provide for the health and welfare for all students. "No one wants to move, but at some point it has to happen," he said. The reason all schools would be included is to create a plan that would be sustainable for the future.
He did say the rumors about definitive decisions on a redistricting plan are not true. Haber has provided preliminary thoughts, but Haber has yet to present a final plan. Plus the board has yet to have any discussions as a group about plans.
Scott Kamer, a board member, said the committee has told Haber how neighborhood schools are a priority for the town. The plans would be to preserve the character of the district within the space available in the schools. There wouldn't be some sort of centralization of students or busing them across the town, he said.
Parents expressed concerns about the timetable and about how short the time has been for Haber to complete a plan.
Schools Supt. Richard Brodow said he can't predict the future, but he knows the board and he will review whatever is presented carefully. He would hope there would be broad support for whatever decision is made. But no one has had a chance to discuss redistricting.
Birnberg said the board most likely would have an open forum on redistricting at the library so parents could give feedback during those two weeks between school board meetings.
Later in the meeting, Lise Chapman said she had concerns with the process and felt the board was giving too much authority to the consultant with the process. The board needs to be more open with the process to create buy-in from the community.
Since Chapman raised her concerns after the new business portion of the meeting, she made a motion to suspend the rules with the intention of making a motion for more time to be granted for discussion with the public on the redistricting plan after May 10. But she never got to make that motion because her effort to suspend the rules failed.
But two school board members said they are getting plenty of public input already on redistricting.
Eric Siegel, a Property Committee member, said his e-mail inbox has been full for days with comments from residents about redistricting. More people write him than speak out at meetings. "We're hearing your comments," he said. "We use what you write and get additional information. We're listening."
Sam Levy, a board member, said he also is receiving a number of e-mails about redistricting. Parents also have cited they found the consultant's Web site, he said, and there's nothing stopping them from e-mailing him to ask questions. E-mail is an effective way for parents to communicate their concerns.
Parents also expressed concerns about students being moved in such a way where they'd have to walk to school on hazardous roads. John Christmas, of Hobart Avenue, said Hobart and White Oak Ridge Road are not hazardous roads per the school designation, and his children would not be eligible for busing if they are moved to a different school.
Kamber said there are lots of rumors out there about plans, but nothing has been decided. Everyone has sound positions on a plan, but it's all premature until the board hears from Haber.
Jeff Waters, board vice president, said every rumor out there is wrong as of right now because they all assume something has been decided. Nothing has been decided. He encouraged parents to ignore the rumors until something is presented publicly.
School officials have been examining how to proceed with redistricting to address an overcrowded situation at
Glenwood Elementary School. Schools Supt. Richard Brodow presented a
plan to move 61 Glenwood students to
Deerfield Elementary School in February, but the board
elected to hire the consultant rather than vote on the presented plan.
Email | Share on Facebook | Share on Twitter |Following | PrintIN THIS ARTICLE
• Glenwood Elementary School325 Taylor Rd S, Short Hills, NJ
• Redistricting Plan Moves 61 Glenwood Students to DeerfieldBy
Jennifer Connic• Deerfield Elementary School26 Troy Ln, Short Hills, NJ
• BOE Plans to Hire Consultant to Analyze RedistrictingBy
Jennifer ConnicCOMMENTS (
3)
DeleteJean Pasternak12:06am on Tuesday, April 27, 2010Jen
Please update to include Lise Chapman's motion to change the rules so that she could introduce another motion as new business to allow the Board to vote definitively on having public comment (task force, public meeting on a Sunday afternoon , or whatever the BOE deemed appropriate) prior to May 10th when the plan is going to be made public. 4 members votes no to this motion: Levy, Birnberg, Kamber, Seigel and 4 voted yes: Chapman, Wenik, Waters, Fox therefore the motion did not pass.
ReplyJennifer Connic12:14am on Tuesday, April 27, 2010I hadn't gotten a chance to add that information to the story yet.
DeleteJean Pasternak7:14am on Tuesday, April 27, 2010Thank you Jennifer. The point that is missing here is input from the community sought mainly via emails and public comments at the BOE meetings limits the problem solving that could happen through an appropriate, representative citizens advisory group that could have been formed when redistricting (and other critical matters) first arose. A group with representatives from each school or neighborhood, for example, could offer advice and nuances specific to their constituency and would help the Board with communication BOTH ways, giving and receiving information to bring back to the community. Some Board members are more open to input from the community than others. The voters just elected with a large percentage vote Lise Chapman, Michael Birnberg and Rona Wenik anad the implication from their election is that voters want not only fiscal responsibility but also more community input on critical decisions affecting our community. I am hopeful that the Board will continue to consider efficient and appropriate ways to do this. Policy concerns or perceived threats to policy should not trump a "yes" to constructive, fair community input. We are fortunate to have many talented people in our community that are willing to work together to help solve problems. Involve them!
--
Subscription settings: http://groups.google.com/group/helpingGlenwood/subscribe?hl=en
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