Few oppose Winterpock school boundary proposal
By Donna C. Gregory ASSISTANT EDITOR

There were very few critics of a proposal to change attendance boundaries for the new Winterpock Elementary School in the Matoaca District during a public hearing before the school board last week. Those who did oppose the boundary change included residents from Brandy Oaks, a subdivision that's currently split between two elementary schools, and parents of students who attend the center-based gifted program at Grange Hall Elementary School.

Under the proposal, attendance zones for Brandy Oaks would remain unchanged, meaning the neighborhood would continue to be split between Spring Run and Grange Hall elementary schools, and the center-based gifted program would be moved to the new Winterpock Elementary.

Brandy Oaks

"This neighborhood does not need to be split," Brandy Oaks resident Lyndon Evans told school board members, adding that many students in his community are being bussed about 10 miles to Grange Hall when Spring Run is within walking distance.

Evans chastised the committee of parents who developed the Winterpock boundaries at the request of school board members, saying the committee did "as little as possible."

"The result is that Hampton Park got its own school," said Evans.

The proposal sends all Hampton Park elementary students to Winterpock. Currently, that neighborhood is split between Spring Run and Grange Hall.

Committee member Patsy Ray said they chose to leave the boundaries at Brandy Oaks unchanged because "our information told us the parents want…as few changes as possible."

But Evans encouraged the school board to unite the neighborhood.

"My suggestion is that Brandy Oaks be redistricted to Spring Run," said Evans. He asked school board members to consider allowing Grange Hall students to finish their elementary school years there while sending all new Brandy Oaks elementary students to Spring Run.

Tammy Dyer, another Brandy Oaks resident, said many students pass Spring Run when riding the school bus to Grange Hall. "It doesn't make sense. Why do we need to bus them 10 miles away?" Dyer questioned. "Literally, you can walk [to Spring Run]."

But several Brandy Oaks parents spoke in support of the proposed boundary plan, and asked that their children be allowed to continue to attend Grange Hall.

Brandy Oaks resident Sandy Mann offered board members a petition with 55 signatures from parents who want the current boundaries to remain so their children can go to Grange Hall. "We want stability for our children," said Mann.

"I would drive my child to Grange Hall. I love the school that much," said Grange Hall parent Wendy Hicks. She lives near Brandy Oaks and served on the committee of parents who drafted the boundary proposal.

Center-based gifted

Some parents also criticized the Winterpock boundary proposal because it involves moving the center-based gifted program at Grange Hall to Winterpock.

Committee members said moving the program is the easiest way to relieve overcrowding at Grange Hall.

Parents complained that the program had already been moved from Swift Creek Elementary School to Grange Hall in 2003.

"The move is very disruptive," said parent Liz Triesler, adding that the center-based gifted program was not represented on the boundary committee.

"Our concerns were not addressed," she maintained.

General comments

Other area residents questioned why the Winterpock boundary change involves so few students. As proposed, about 775 students will be impacted by the redistricting.

Committee members were asked to look at adjusting the boundaries for Spring Run, Grange Hall, Clover Hill and Alberta Smith elementary schools. However, the proposal only addresses overcrowding at Spring Run and Grange Hall. Clover Hill and Alberta Smith remain untouched.

"I'm surprised there wasn't a grander scope," said Kelly Marie, a Clover Hill Elementary parent. "Clover Hill needs relief."

"We have one school, and we can only do so much with one school," explained committee member Shelly Schuetz.

"We're not changing as little as possible," added Hicks. "We were trying to eliminate moving a child this year and again in three years."

Committee members and the school board know another boundary change in the Matoaca District is imminent. It's just a matter of when.

The district has undergone massive residential development in recent years with more to come. Hampton Park alone sends about 600 elementary students to county schools. Another 2,392 homes are planned at Harper's Mill where Winterpock is located along with 4,886 homes that will be built over the next two decades in nearby Magnolia Green. Several smaller residential developments are also in the works.

"How many more schools do we need? I can tell you a lot more than we're going to build," said Marshall Trammell, school board representative for the Bermuda District, after the public hearing was closed. "I don't believe we're ever going to be able to build enough schools quick enough."

School enrollments increase by about 1,000 new students per year. Many of those students live in the Matoaca District.

School board members plan to vote on the Winterpock boundary proposal at their meeting on Feb. 27. To learn more about the Winterpock boundary proposal, visit www.chesterfield.k12.va.us.