Clarkston schools plan redistricting

At the Nov. 29 board meeting, Executive Director of Pre-K and Elementary Education Geraldine Moore discussed the latest information regarding the district’s boundary proposal.
Moore gave a summary of a proposed plan, which was prepared by an administrative committee.
The Elementary Boundary Committee was created to address attendance areas at the K-5 buildings. Participants on the committee include: principals from each elementary school, director of transportation, director of human resources and executive director of preschool and elementary education.
The draft plan proposes to move attendance areas for nearly 200 students district-wide.
Why is the district making these changes?
In 2003, a large amount of classroom space was added at Pine Knob Elementary. With this additional space, administrators are now able to relieve some buildings, which have reached maximum capacity. Certain areas of Clarkston are experiencing more growth than others, causing overcrowding in certain schools.
The committee faced many challenges while forming this draft. They found that the largest schools are located North of I-75, such as Independence and Bailey Lake elementaries; the smallest schools are located in highly populated areas; and two schools have walking attendance areas. Some of the strengths the committee found included: the same curriculum at each school; MEAP and other assessments showing a small variation from each school; highly practiced teachers at every school and all training done on a district-wide level.
The district wants to ensure that each school has the advantage of having rooms for art, music and science, instead of ‘art on a cart? as Karen Foyteck, board of education president, describes the situation.
Proposed shifts
from draft plan
? (A) Montclair Subdivision – the area South of Waldon, North of I-75, East of Clintonville Road and West of Rohr Road. These areas will be moved to Pine Knob Elementary from Bailey Lake Elementary.
? (B) Timber Creek Subdivision- South of Waldon, North of I-75 and West of Clintonville Road. These areas will be moved to Pine Knob Elementary from Clarkston Elementary.
? (C) Northcrest Condominiums will be moved from to Clarkston Elementary from Springfield Plains Elementary.
? (D) Clarkston Bluff Condominiums and the Maple Road area will be moved to Clarkston Elementary from Springfield Plains.
? (E) Lancaster Apartments, Green Lake Apartments, Parview Street and Andersonville Road East of Nelsey, will be moved to Andersonville Elementary from Springfield Plains Elementary.
? (F) changes include: Reese Road, a portion of Rattalee Lake Road east and West of Reese Road, and Ellis Road North of Knox and Oakhill Road between Ellis just East of Reese, will be moved to Springfield Plains Elementary from Independence Elementary.
The committee has been working on this proposal for a year. They sent letters home with kids on Nov. 12 and the draft plans were posted on Nov. 15.
Still, several parents felt they needed more warning and were taken by surprise. Clarkston resident Robin Matczak felt the timing was not appropriate due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Matczak also felt that parents were surprised by this information, and they were not given enough time to take it in and respond to the plan. Matczak, along with many other residents, want their children to have the security and comfort of the same teachers and principals.
The draft plan is setting new elementary boundaries throughout Clarkston, which many parents believe should not be part of the plan. For example, residents who live in Montclair, which is a part of Oakhurst, feel that they should remain part of the Oakhurst boundary and splitting them would isolate them from that community.
Parents and local citizens had the opportunity to voice their opinions during the workshop. There were people against the plan and people for the plan. Overall, the parents feel they should be included in future committee plans.
Superintendent Dr. Al Roberts concluded the discussion with a summary, and repeated that this was still a draft plan.
Moore did not return phone calls from The Clarkston News requesting followup information.
A map of the plan is available. For more information or comments regarding the redistricting draft plan, call the Communications office at 248-623-5420.

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