Shenandoah Board Tables Redistricting

WOODSTOCK — The possibility of changing school attendance districts in Shenandoah County to combat overcrowding has been tabled a second time by the School Board.

 

At a Dec. 13 board meeting, members delayed the discussion, asking for more information.

 

“The big question is, ‘Is it worth it?” asked Board Chairman Gary Rutz.

 

On Jan. 10, Superintendent B. Keith Rowland said he still had concerns about redrawing the boundary lines.

 

A study conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University several years ago indicated that moving the attendance lines so that the elementary school populations are even would put each of the three schools in the county at 97 percent capacity.

 

Rowland said he worried the change would simply delay instead of resolve the problem.

 

The new boundaries also would increase the length of bus rides of most affected students by about 20 minutes. The students in question are on the bus an average of about an hour each way as it is.

 

By the start of the next school year, two elementary schools will be overcapacity.

 

W.W. Robinson Elementary School in Woodstock and Sandy Hook Elementary in Strasburg will be at 103 percent and 106 percent, respectively. Ashby Lee Elementary in Quicksburg will be at 83 percent.

 

In November, Rowland said any decision to go into effect by the next school year must be made by the end of January to allow time for public hearings and to give families information.

 

The board decided, however, to keep the idea on its next agenda as a discussion topic only, and not as an action item. The board meets next on Feb. 14 in the Shenandoah County government center in Woodstock.

 

Contact Kaitlin Mayhew at 574-6290 or kmayhew@dnronline.com