N-W approves redistricting

by Larry Austin
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, April 19, 2007

Growth in Wheatfield has caused the Niagara-Wheatfield School District to add another phase to its redistricting plan for students.

At the April 4 Board of Education meeting, the board voted to accept Phase II of a re-districting plan in the 2007-08 school year.

Several members of the audience asked the board to reconsider their plans, saying the redistricting methodology that would shift children from Errick Road Elementary to West Street Elementary had changed from one earlier proposed and was flawed. Bus rides had lengthened for the children, one gentleman said.

School Superintendent Dr. Judith Howard said that because Errick Road School is growing faster than the district originally planned, and with more developments in Wheatfield on the horizon, the district would add a phase to the re-districting plan that would take “a little steam off” the growth issue with a move of 90 students. She noted the re-districting couldn’t re-district areas under development, but had to move children from established areas.

She called the latest re-districting phase a miniature move before a much bigger one later.

One resident said the residents had no warning. Howard reminded her that in 2005, when the school system formed a re-districting committee and held a public meeting on the plan, the phases were preliminary and subject to change.

“That was stated in 2005, and that’s exactly what happened,” Howard said. “We have growth in Wheatfield. We have no control over that. It’s just something that we have to deal with, and this school (West Street) is a marvelous school.”

The re-districting was planned, but the boundaries changed, Howard said later. A committee in 2005 set the re-districting for the future, but always knew the plan was subject to change.

The school system conducted re-districting in 1998 and in 2005, Howard said.

Also at the April 4 meeting:

•Former Board President Mike Murawski of Grauer Road took umbrage at a published report in the March 29 Tribune (“WBA bothered by N-W’s lack of support”), in which members of the Wheatfield Business Association bemoaned what they considered a lack of support of local business from the district. Specifically, sports banquets are typically held outside the district’s boundary, they alleged.

Murawski said booking banquets is not a district function, but a duty taken on by parents or sports booster groups. He noted with interest that in the same article was a report that the WBA had temporarily put on hold two $500 scholarships. In response to that decision by the WBA, Murawski said, the Niagara-Wheatfield Sports Alliance has decided to award two $500, one-time-only, scholarships.

•Board Vice President Michele Hoerner, who ran the meeting in place of BoE President Maureen Kaus, who was absent, announced that at Meet the Candidates Night is scheduled for May 2.

•Board member Don Moyer said the students involved with the high school musical did “an excellent job,” though the play itself was poorly attended, he said. He praised the hard work by those involved in the production. Those who missed the play, “Jane Eyre,” missed out, he said.

“I’m sure if they would have gone, they would have enjoyed it,” Moyer said.

Board member Lori Pittman praised Moyer for his backstage help in the production.

•The board heard from students involved with Leadership Niagara’s youth branch.