Redistricting Letters Going Out This Week

Families impacted by the redistricting plan approved last week will start receiving letters about it this week.

Schools Supt. Richard Brodow said Tuesday he, the three impacted principals, the transportation coordinator and special education program representatives met earlier that day about implementing the plan that shuffles students between Glenwood, Hartshorn and Deerfield elementary schools. The group reviewed all of the names and the streets involved in the redistricting to make sure everything was correct.

The Board of Education approved a redistricting plan last Thursday that shifts students from Glenwood to Hartshorn and Deerfield. Additionally, Hartshorn students would be shifted to Deerfield. The plan allows fourth and fifth graders to stay at their current school and their siblings for one year. With the grandfathering, 68 students would be moved—51 from Glenwood and 17 from Hartshorn. 

Brodow has written a letter that will be sent to impacted families, which he expects will go out on Wednesday. Soon after the three principals will send a letter to impacted families too.

Parents of fourth and fifth graders with siblings soon will be asked if they want to take advantage of the right for their children to be grandfathered. Families would be given a week to make a decision, Brodow said.

A lot of work also needs to be done at the schools receiving students, including a list of 20 things. "Like I said last week, I feel confident our three principals will make this a smooth process," Brodow said.

Also, there won't be an appeals process for families affected by redistricting and do not have a grandfathering option. "How do you say yes to one youngster and no to another?" Brodow said.