Alternatives Committee Unveils Non-Redistricting Plan to School Board

The Belmont-Redwood Shores School District board of trustees on Thursday night did not make a on whether to redefine Belmont elementary school boundaries, and instead discussed alternatives to redistricting.

The Alternatives Committee, created after the possibility of redistricting came to light and a Boundaries Committee was formed, has met a number of times to try to find a solution that curbs moving a portion of Central Elementary's boundary to Nesbit's.

At a recent school board meeting, the Boundaries Committee recommended the board consider moving areas 41, 42 and 43 from the Central area to the Nesbit area, as well as changing a portion of residents near Mezes Avenue from Cipriani Elementary to Central.

The boundary shift would grandfather in kids whose siblings currently attend a given school, board members emphasized. Board President Andy Stulbarg said there hasn't been discussion of moving kids from schools they are currently enrolled in, whether boundaries are shifted or another solution is implemented.

"We are trying to make a decision that is right and fair," Stulbarg said. "No matter what decision we make, someone is going to think it’s not right and fair."

Alternatives Committee Chair Alesha Breite updated the board on the committee's suggestions, the main one being to implement a lottery system for all the schools.

Under the lottery system, should there be a 50-student maximum to an incoming class at one elementary school and 45 students enroll, they will all likely attend. But if 60 students enroll, they will all be entered into a lottery and 10 will go to their sister school.

And whichever school a student attends in their first year at the district will become that family's home school, Breite said.

"We would only implement the lottery where there’s over capacity concerns," she said.

Some parents, however, found the lottery system to be a less favorable option compared to changing boundaries.

Melissa Fitzpatrick, a graduate of Central Elementary herself, said she worries that if a lottery system is chosen instead of a boundary shift, neighborhoods would be split up.

Her son, she said, will enter kindergarten in 2012. The kids on their block will all attend Central since their siblings are currently enrolled there, but Fitzpatrick's siblings are in middle and high school now.

"With the lottery system it seems you would be dividing neighborhoods," Fitzpatrick said. "A boundary change keeps neighborhoods intact."

Parents who oppose the boundary shift have said they're worried moving areas 41, 42 and 43 from Central to Nesbit would break up the neighborhood. Though kids who live in those areas and currently attend Central don't face the possibility of moving schools, new students who move to the neighborhood would have to go to a different school than their neighbors.

Other suggestions from the Alternatives Committee are listed below.

ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION OVERVIEW:

IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS:

1. Build out at Fox Elementary School and Nesbit Elementary School as needed.
2. Implement a soft cap on enrollment.
3. Implement sister schools (Fox and Cipriani, and Central and Nesbit would become sister schools).
4. Implement basic priority enrollment.
5. Assign students to home schools.

The school board will vote on a solution to the boundary issue at either the June 2 or June 16. In the meantime, board members plan to hold at least one community meeting to discuss the impact a lottery system would have on all of Belmont.

Belmont Patch will post the meeting date, time and location when it has been decided.