POLL: Looking At Wayzata School Proposed Boundary Changes
What do you think about the proposed Wayzata elementary school boundary changes?
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Much discussion on boundary changes has occupied the time of families in the Wayzata School District these days.
Whether you are for or against one of the scenarios being proposed, see tweaks with proposals so far or think things don't need to be changed, many parents and community members have opinions on the topic.
A Wayzata School Board work session Nov. 26 at Wayzata Central Middle School yielded a seventh scenario proposal and comments from a large number of parents and community members that gathered there.
Parents with signs varying on themes of "Keep our School Local" "Greenwood Yes - Oakwood No," "We've Moved Once" and more could be seen at the Monday night meeting. Many of the sign holders were from one or more neighborhoods include the Spring Meadows neighborhood, who say they would be negatively impacted by the proposed Scenario 7.
One parent from the group contacted Patch saying the latest scenario would have hers and other Spring Meadow kids going past three other elementary schools to get to Oakwood Elementary from having been at Greenwood previously. The group wanted to draw attention to this move because it didn't make sense to them. The fear for parents was under scenario 7 their children could spend an additional 30 hours a year on the bus. (See map of Scenario 7 with this article.)
Chairman Jay Hesby acknowledged the concerns of the group and others who spoke at the meeting. The work session was another chance to engage the community and discuss the proposed changes that could possibly go into effect for the next school year.
The district thanked everyone for their feedback and reviewed its proposal process to date noting that class size guidelines must be met and that addressing middle school populations were next on the list after elementary school changes were made.
Balancing schools, maintaining current schools, making adjustments for development and decisions for right-sizing schools are all part of the district's process. Like it has been previously stated, district officials do not feel data supports opening a new school.
All the input given from school board members, the public and staff at the work session is now being compiled and part of the ongoing process for creating proposed attendance boundary changes. Anyone and everyone have the opportunity to provide online feedbackabout Scenario 7 until Friday, Nov. 30.
Any further modified recommendations will be given to the School Board at its regular meeting 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 10, for possible approval. If anything is approved at that time, the planning process will begin for implementing a new enrollment balancing and attendance area and creating transition plans immediately.
Looking for further information on this topic. Go to the topic's page here.
(Editor's Note: What do you think of the proposed scenarios for attendance boundary changes so far? Take our poll below and/or write in the comments below to share with us.)
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Mary Jo Reiter
9:35 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
It's ridiculous that Spring Meadows students should be bussed past two neighborhood schools to attend Oakwood. Whatever happened to the concept of students attending their neighborhood school???????????????? What is this school board thinking??
Mary Jo Reiter
9:37 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Sorry, The bus would pass THREE other schools on it's way to Oakwood.
Dave Haas
10:59 am on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Mary Jo - unfortunately the board is in a box on this - no matter what they do, how they do it, someone's neighborhood is going to bused past 1, 2,3 or possibly 4 schools before they get to their school. The board has been denying the facts of growth in Northwest part of the district for too long, and has decided to "honor" the money spent and work of previous administrations and boards by pouring money into busining and adding on to 1950's era buildings. IMHO, it would do more to "Honor" them if we cut the losses on the old buildings and stopped busing so many kids across the district. Start the construction - have a new building ready for 2015-16.