Norwin alters attendance boundaries for 4 elementary schools for next school year

Some Norwin elementary school students will attend different schools in the fall because of the district’s decision to change the attendance areas of its four elementary schools.

The school board this week approved the redistricting plan to achieve what officials said would be a better balance in enrollment among the schools.

They said it will allow for space for additional students the district expects will be needed in the Stewartsville and Sunset Valley attendance zones because of proposed housing plans in their enrollment areas.

The five redistricting plans presented to the board were designed to make as few elementary students as possible change schools, the administration said.

“Redistricting is not an easy decision nor a perfect process in any school district, and it requires adjustments for the families who are impacted,” said Brian Carlton, board president.

Under the plan the school board approved by a 7-2 vote, the proposed enrollment at Hahntown would drop from about 529 students receiving some in-person instruction to 468 students next school year. The total count does not include 74 students receiving instruction through the Norwin Online Academy nor students who opted to attend charter schools, cybercharter schools or private and parochial schools this year, the district said.

At Sunset Valley, the projected enrollment next year of 460 students is about the same as this school year. There are an additional 57 students in the Sunset Valley attendance zone in the Norwin Online Academy.

Enrollment at the two other elementary schools would see increases. Stewartsville’s enrollment would rise to 512. There are 426 students in school this year, plus 49 in the Norwin Online Academy. Enrollment at Sheridan Terrace would experience a slight bump, to 473, from 436 students getting in-school instruction and 52 in the Norwin Online Academy.

Board member Darlene Ciocca, who voted against the plan, wanted to wait another month to review the redistricting plan, which would give the public more of an opportunity to provide input.

Director William Essay, however, said he believed there had been ample time for the public to respond. The district formed a redistricting committee in November to study the issue.

A different proposed redistricting plan that would have increased enrollment at Sheridan Terrace to a projected 499 students, while dropping Sunset Valley’s enrollment to about 436, was rejected in a 6-3 vote.

Carlton said Norwin has created a transition plan for all families impacted by the redistricting process. The redistricting committee, along with more parents and teachers, will work to implement a comprehensive transition plan, he said.

Information on the transition plan is available at the school district website.