Parents at Community Forum Question Need to Rightsize Primary Schools

Pine-Richland parents questioned the need to redistrict or rightsize primary schools Wednesday night at a three-hour community forum attended by about 75 people.

Three primary schools currently serve more than 1,200 students in kindergarten through third grade in , with 328 at , 507 at and 418 at elementary schools.

The lopsided numbers prompted Pine-Richland School District administrators to propose rightsizing to even out the populations at Hance and Richland. But the six proposed rightsizing plans also affect Wexford.

Parents expressed concerns about uprooting their children from the schools with which they are familiar and questioned the need to do so.

Residents of Pine Ridge Manor/White Pine Drive in Pine Township argued that it made no sense to redistrict so their development's 16 children would attend Richland Elementary instead of Wexford, which is only two miles away.

Other speakers questioned how the district came up with the population projections used to make the redistricting proposals.

Assistant Finance Director Ryan Manzer, who also serves as transportation director, said the district used a demographic study prepared in 2008 by Shelby Stewman, professor of demography and sociology at Carnegie Mellon University. The study was commissioned by the school board when it debated whether to expand because of crowding there.

School district administrators also spoke to Pine and Richland township officials about planned housing developments that have not left the drawing board yet because of the economy.

Pine Ridge Manor resident Karen Manna, who is a financial analyst, said she was troubled by the district's projections. 

The demographic study was undertaken during one of the country's biggest real estate booms, Manna continued. 

"We are in a far, far different economic time now," she said.

Balancing Hance's under-utilization with Richland Elementary's burgeoning population is a completely separate issue than planning for the student population that will come with future home building in Pine Township, she said.

Manzer presented maps of the proposed redistricting, with statistics on the student populations, and an overview of what the changes would mean.

"Our point here today is to take your feedback," he said. "We want to collect your thoughts. We are listening."

After analyzing specifics and weighing the pros and cons, Manzer said the administration will come up with a plan to present Monday to the school board's operational services committee, which meets at 6 p.m. at the district's administrative offices.

That committee will make a recommendation to the full school board, possibly at the March 12 meeting. Then the school board is expected to vote March 26.

Some speakers asked, "Why now?"

Hance Principal John Mayberry explained that the current imbalance hurts staffing at the school.

The building has six empty classrooms, while Richland is noting how crowded its cafeteria gets at lunchtime, he said.

Hance's resources are "slowly getting chipped away" as some teachers take to the road on certain days to teach art or physical education, for example, at Richland Elementary.

Hance parent Aimee Pavlick said her son could not get into an enriched reading group with the librarian until just two weeks ago because the librarian is not there full-time.

Mayberry, Wexford Principal Rick Walsh and Richland Principal Gene Nicastro all alluded to the passion that is kindled when redistricting changes are contemplated.

Many parents are onboard and understanding of the rationale of rightsizing, said Nicastro, who has been in his job for only six weeks.

"They are fine with the concept as long as it doesn't affect their house," he said.

When asked about the possibility of adding staff, Superintendent Dr. Mary Bucci said it did not make sense to hire more staff when the existing staff at one building is underused because of lower enrollment.

"I'm concerned about every one of those (1,200-plus primary school) children," said Bucci. "And you're concerned about your children and that's the way it should be.

"My job is to look at the big picture," she continued. "I can confidently say each one of our schools is a great place to be."

"There's no plan in a locked drawer at the (administrative) office," Bucci said. "We're here to listen to you."

To see the plans, click here. 

Pine-Richland School District's website gives these highlights:

Plan 1:

• Redistrict Richland Highlands plan so its 20 students attend Hance instead of Richland. The plan is off Richland Road in Richland Township.
• Redistrict Rabold Fields so its 19 students attend Wexford instead of Richland. The plan is located in Pine Township.

Plan 2A:

• Only redistrict areas that contain new housing plans. No current students would be redistricted.

Plan 2B:

• Focus on redistricting areas that contain new housing plans while limiting the impact on current students.
• As in Plan 1, Richland Highlands students would move to Hance; Rabold Fields students would move to Wexford. In addition, five students from part of Logan Road would be redistricted to Richland.

Plan 3A:

• Adjust the northeast Hance boundary to include the Grandview plan while making other adjustments to the western boundary of Richland and Hance to account for new construction.
• The future development of Alderwood would be assigned to Richland Elementary.
• Grandview's 90 students and Richland Highlands' 20 students would be redistricted to Hance.
• Rabold Fields' 19 students would go to Wexford.
• Five students from part of Logan Road and 16 students from White Pine Drive would be redistricted to Richland.

Plan 3B:

• Adjust the northeast Hance boundary to include the Grandview housing plan while making other adjustments to the western boundary of Richland and Hance to account for new construction.
• Assign future developments in the northwest portion of Pine, including Pleasant Ridge and Dean/Mt. Pleasant, to Richland.
• Grandview's 90 students and Richland Highlands' 20 students would be redistricted to Hance.
• Rabold Fields' 19 students would go to Wexford.
• Five students from part of Logan Road and 16 students from White Pine Drive would be redistricted to Richland.

Plan #4

• Adjust the northern Hance boundary to include the areas north of Route 910 between the Turnpike and Route 8.
• Roads north of Route 910 that would be redistricted to Hance include Clearview, Centerview, Lakeside, Dickey, Grove, Phillips, Franklin, Wesleyann, Baur, Fairfield, Meridian and Fisher.

• Richland Highlands' 20 students would be redistricted to Hance.
• Rabold Fields' 19 students would go to Wexford.
• Five students from part of Logan Road and 16 students from White Pine Drive would be redistricted to Richland.