Dear Editor,
“School Boundary Changes.” I was shocked to see that headline in
the Oct. 30, 2004, Morgan Hill Times. In December of 2002, the
School Board asked the Morgan Hill School District to make specific
recommendations with the imminent opening of the new high
school.
Dear Editor,
“School Boundary Changes.” I was shocked to see that headline in the Oct. 30, 2004, Morgan Hill Times. In December of 2002, the School Board asked the Morgan Hill School District to make specific recommendations with the imminent opening of the new high school.
The district formed a committee chaired by a district’s deputy superintendent.
As a member of that School Boundary Committee, I am very concerned by what I read. This committee of 30 people composed of school faculty, transportation, district staff, city staff, and parent/community members, could not convince the school board members to make a very unpopular decision to change the boundaries of any elementary school.
What makes the district think that hiring a consultant will give the school board the “guts” to change the elementary school boundaries? Our committee worked very hard to build balanced and fair boundaries while studying the problem for over six months. We looked at socioeconomic data, growth forecasts, existing boundaries, current and forecasted populations among many other factors.
Unfortunately, any change in boundaries will mean that some families will have to change to new, potentially less desirable schools. Angry parents from several schools that might have had their children moved came to the school board meetings with their concerns and complaints. The net result was that no changes were made to elementary school boundaries.
This is a tough decision no matter what choices are made. We had several disagreements, even among committee members. In the end no decision will please everyone. The goal will continue to be schools with balanced populations so that they meet the needs of the community.
There are wonderful working models of boundaries already presented to the district. Spending money on a “consultant” to study the problem and come up with the same set of tough choices doesn’t make sense and is a waste of district dollars.
Hopefully, the new school board will have the “guts” to make tough choices.
Teresa Jennings, Morgan Hill
