Parents Call Redistricting Plan ‘Draconian’

By SYDNEY SCHWARTZ

Pembroke

Opponents of Pembroke School Superintendent Frank Hackett’s redistricting plan say having slightly smaller classes is not enough to justify moving children from their neighborhood school.

But advocates say the reduction in class sizes will make a major difference in the quality of education.

More than 60 residents turned out Thursday night for a hearing on Hackett’s plan to move 175 students from the Hobomock Elementary School to the Bryantville Elementary School. The school committee plans to vote on the plan Tuesday night.

Because of overcrowding, kindergarten students from the Hobomock district have been attending Bryantville School since September.

Hackett’s plan would bring back those kindergartners and, he says, equalize class sizes at the two schools. It also would create room for growth. Sixth-graders affected by the redistricting would be able to decide whether to move to Bryantville.

But many parents whose children would be affected say the change is not worth it and say they do not understand why the school committee is revisiting the overcrowding problem after only one year.

Hackett’s recommendation came two weeks after a report from a school demographics consultant that said declining birth rates would lead to lower enrollment in the elementary schools in a few years.

"The enrollment’s going down. Why did you decide to revisit this?" said Bob Hamn of Queensbrook Road. "You’re talking about moving them out of the only school they ever knew … It’s draconian. It’s harsh and it’s severe."

Hamn’s Queensbrook Road neighbor, Julie Stimpson, said her daughter’s class would only vary by about two students whether she stayed at Hobomock or moved to Bryantville.

"That small change will not overcome the trauma of her having to move," she said. "My child will be sacrificed because she’s not getting the benefit of significantly lower class sizes."

But Helen Healey, a Bryantville teacher and former Hobomock parent, said a few less students in the classroom does make a big difference. She and other teachers said the students would adjust.

"This is emotional for you, I understand that, but it is sensible," Healey said. "Two, three, four kids extra in a class is huge and I know that."

Sydney Schwartz may be reached at sschwartz@ledger.com.

Originally published by By SYDNEY SCHWARTZ, The Patriot Ledger.

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