[SchoolMatters] Update on Redistricting Policy Discussions

[Brian Wheeler]

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This message is not an official communication of the Albemarle County School
Board. It is a private, e-mail-only newsletter written by Brian Wheeler,
At-Large Member of the Albemarle County School Board. 
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[Want to share some public comments on this message?  See the weblog version
here:
http://schoolmatters.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/02/update_on_redis.html]
 
Those of you closely following the Albemarle County redistricting policy
discussion may have wondered what happened after our January 12, 2006
meeting when the School Board last discussed Policy FB, the redistricting
policy.  In November-December, the School Board was anxious to approve a new
redistricting policy and it appeared a new policy was going to be
fast-tracked to include specific enrollment triggers to guide future
redistricting decisions.
 
My suggestion then was that we take our time and schedule a joint meeting
with the School Board's Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC) to review how
we could improve the redistricting process.  There was no support for that
idea, so I drafted a compromise version of Policy FB for the board's
consideration (see: 
http://www.wheeleronboard.com/docs/20060108-PolicyFBDraft-Wheeler.pdf ).
That proposal was received by the School Board for the January 12, 2006
meeting.  At that meeting, the School Board decided not to take action on
any Policy FB proposals (mine or the version from staff).  Instead, Board
members voiced support for having a retreat to evaluate the overall role of
the LRPC.  Some members suggested the citizen LRPC should be eliminated,
particularly in light of the fact some magisterial districts had few to zero
applicants for open positions on the committee.  There was some support for
having the work of the committee done entirely by staff and the School
Board.
 
This retreat on facilities planning and redistricting is scheduled for this
Wednesday, February 8, 2006.  The School Board's materials for this meeting
include redistricting policies used by the following other school divisions:
Chesterfield; Loudoun; Fairfax; Stafford; and Portsmouth.  Staff hope we
will leave this retreat with direction as to whether the LRPC should retain
its current role, have a modified role, or be eliminated entirely.
 
I believe we need a Long Range Planning Committee equipped with an improved
redistricting policy.  There are elements of the approach taken by
Chesterfield County that I believe could improve future redistrictings in
Albemarle.
 
Brian Wheeler
 
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Brian Wheeler
 <mailto:bwheeler at albemarlematters.com> bwheeler at albemarlematters.com
 <http://www.wheeleronboard.com/> http://www.wheeleronboard.com
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