Fairfield To Receive New School Redistricting Scenario

FAIRFIELD, CT — A new redistricting scenario will be presented to the Fairfield Board of Education sometime in the next several days that the members hope will come closer to being one that will best address the racial imbalance in the town's public schools.

The district has grappled with the issue of racial imbalance in schools for years, but the board is making a concerted push to come up with a plan in the next seven weeks that it can present to state education officials to show improvement on the matter.

To that end, the new scenario from consulting company SLAM, nicknamed "4C," will concentrate on lowering the racial imbalance percentage throughout the district to 21 percent or lower, while also presenting possibilities of where best to implement early childhood centers, known as ECCs.

"It was clear that there has been a slight shift on redistricting possibilities," said Fairfield Schools Superintendent Michael Testani during a Board of Education meeting Tuesday on racial imbalance and redistricting. "Bringing the number to 21 percent or below became a priority."

Testani added that in his recent conversations with SLAM, company officials appeared confident that it could find a scenario that will hit the 21 percent or under goal.

Parents voiced concerns Tuesday whatever redistricting plan is selected, it could negatively impact dozens of students, many of whom are still in a fragile state post-COVID.

"There is not one scenario that will not affect one school more than others," said board member Bonnie Rotelli.

If the district can not come up with a scenario it can get behind, however, the state may take action against the town.

"It's hard to say what they will do, but they intend to do something," Testani said of state officials.

The board is scheduled to meet on Sept. 12 to discuss the new scenario from SLAM, and intends to vote on a plan by the end of October.