Southington School Neighborhood Switch May Signal Redistricting Plan

SOUTHINGTON, CT — Children living in a new housing development in town will have to go to an elementary school outside its regular geographic district following a school board vote last week.

But the decision to have Winchester Estates' children attend school at Kelley Elementary School instead of Thalberg Elementary School, where they would geographically be assigned, may be a precursor to necessary redistricting of the entire town.

The Southington Board of Education voted unanimously Dec. 8 to assign this soon-to-be built upscale neighborhood to Kelley, even though Thalberg is geographically where they are assigned to.

That's because, according to school administrators, Thalberg is already at full capacity, with a full enrollment of 436 students. Kelley, however, could accommodate more students.

Southington Superintendent of Schools Steve Madancy said the new development, which will consist of 34 homes, has recently broken ground and there's no estimate yet on how many children will be living there.

But, he said, the school system is already hearing from parents about the development, which is located north of Churchill Street in town.

"They are breaking ground and we are starting to receive some calls from families about what is the designated school district from this development," Madancy said at the Dec. 8 school board meeting.

There is an ongoing enrollment study going on with all Southington schools, a study whose completion might prompt a complete redistricting study.

School board members said total redistricting might be necessary to accommodate school facilities and population shifts in town.

"I believe we may have to have a consideration where we have to have a modified redistricting plan," said school board member David J. Derynoski.

"Bigger picture, we need to re-align everything," added board of education member Sean M. Carson.

Such a redistricting would also require adjustments in transportation plans to better utilize space on the school buses.

For the minutes of the Dec. 8 Southington Board of Education meeting, click on this link.

For more information on Winchester Estates, click on this link.