Board begins yearlong redistricting process for high schools

When the Board of Education meets on Monday, Aug. 6, it will be the beginning of a yearlong process to review redistricting policies, develop alternatives for redistricting of high school attendance zones, create an attendance zone for the new St. Charles High School and reduce overcrowding in the six existing high schools.

The Board of Education meets at 6 p.m., Aug. 6, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building in La Plata. The agenda includes discussion on redistricting policies and suggested policy changes developed by a Board committee. Additionally, the Board will begin discussion on which grades are to be included in St. Charles High School when it opens in August 2014. Possible alternatives include opening it as a full high school with grades 9-12; limiting grades to 9-11; limiting grades to 9-10; or opening as a combination middle/high school with grades 7-9. A complete agenda is posted on the school system website at www.ccboe.com.

Redistricting, said Superintendent James E. Richmond, is essential to create an attendance zone for St. Charles High School and to balance enrollments at the six other high schools. St. Charles High School is scheduled to open in August 2014. The school opening was first planned for 2011, but construction has been delayed twice due to economic and funding issues. State and local funding for the $64 million high school has been finalized and construction on the building is set to begin next month.

A Board subcommittee met during the summer to review and develop suggested changes to policy guiding the redistricting process. The Board will review the suggestions as an information item on Aug. 6. When the Board changes policy, it is scrutinized over three meetings: first as an information item, second as a report and third as an action item for a vote. Rule changes are developed by the Superintendent, and provide the process staff follows to implement the Board’s policy. Proposed changes to the Board policies include the addition of a third public information session/hearing. The Superintendent has proposed changes to the composition of the redistricting committee. Complete policy change suggestions will be posted with the agenda on BoardDocs July 30.

The tentative high school redistricting timeline is:

August 2012