Editor: In order to clarify the proposed and final solutions accompanying the decision to re-define the attendance boundaries within the Jefferson School District, the issue at hand was not whether the boundaries would change. In my opinion, with the projected future growth, that was a given. Rather, at hand was grandfathering any existing enrollees from the affected area, and allowing them to continue attending the school in which they currently attended for the duration of their enrollment within the district.
In all, placement of 83 Garden Square students already attending Hawkins was at issue. Mr. Tassano's assessment of my proposal was generous, but inaccurate. I proposed a solution that would allow this year's 1st through 3rd and 5th through 7th graders to remain at Hawkins, while this year's 17 4th graders from Garden Square begin 5th grade at Jefferson next year. Due to class size reduction preservation, this year's 10 kindergarteners from Garden Square would need to be schooled at Monticello next year. Thus under my proposal, six of eight grade levels, and 67 percent – or 56 of the 83 affected students would be allowed to stay, and no expense would be incurred by the district.
Unfortunately, the board opted to allow only 21 of the students to remain.
Daniel Wells,
Jefferson School District trustee
Tracy