I heard from a good source but can't get an offical confirmation from PHSD staff since it is spring break that the Redistricting Committee selected Map 3A3.
The map is posted below along with the back up information. I have never liked the 1,2,3,4 grading system and will let readers grade the Committee's work using the old fashioned or the 1-4 system or some made up touchy-feely self esteem system they prefer. The criteria are listed in no order although the committee voted that socio-economic was their top priority.
Enrollment Balance
Goal: Enrollment will be balanced among all elementary schools.
Comment: Chinn has 364 projected students and Renner has 389 projected students. English Landing and Tiffany Ridge are over 500 projected students. Balanced?
Socio-Economic Balance
Goal: The schools will have balanced socio-economic populations that reflect the demographics of the entire community.
Comment: 4 schools are twice as high as the lowest school. Was there a measured goal that was attempted to be achieved that looked at the mean and standard deviation or was an arbitrary number pulled out of a hat?
Transportation Distance and Safety
Goal: Transportation distance will be minimized in order to protect student safety.
Comment: People south of 73rd Street are being bussed to Renner and people within a mile of Renner are being bussed to Prairie Point. People from the Coves are being sent to Line Creek. People from Misty Woods have to ride a bus by Southeast or Graden to get to English Landing. The map makes some single family low density neighborhoods go a long away from home and doesn't allow stay at home moms with the opportunity to walk to school.
Maintain Neighborhoods and Subdivisions
Goal: Boundaries will be structured to keep district subdivisions together within one school attendance boundary.
Comment: After doing what should have been done before the maps were ever presented to the public, Wildwood and the Coves were put back together. Embassy Park is split over 3 schools. The area south of the Weatherby Lake dam is split.
Minimal Attendance Area Changes
Goal: The number of students that change schools will be minimized.
Comment: About 1574 students will change if my Illinois public school math education is correct. Scenario 5 had that number over 1100. 3A3 is better than the first 3A and 3B maps presented.
Future Growth Considerations
Goal: Boundaries will anticipate residential growth and economic trends in the community.
Comment: This one is hard to quantify. From some of the people I talked to during the public hearings, this didn't pan out the last time this happened. Chinn has plenty of capacity to grow but only one potential subdivision that would add students. With the economy and market being what it is, I do see the potential for more growth as the southeast part of the district continues to change over as the Baby Boom generation either voluntarily or involutarily leave the houses where they've lived their latter adult life. Enlish Landing is only going to lose 14 kids and may have capacity issues as some subdivisions continue to grow. I could see Tiffany Ridge having capacity issues as the housing market improves.
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