Updated: Additional info and continued discussion at http://www.pweducation.info/2011/05/reagan-middle-school-boundary-discussion/
From InsideNova
According to White’s presentation, by 2012 Bull Run Middle would be at 147 percent of the school’s 1,233-student capacity without Reagan Middle. Gainesvilleand Marsteller Middle Schools will both be more than 30 percent overpopulated under the same circumstances.
By following Plan 5, Reagan would open at 93 percent capacity and would drop Bull Run Middle’s population to 1,122 students, or 91 percent capacity. Gainesville and Marsteller would both remain over 100 percent capacity, at 106 percent and 123 percent, respectively.
However, four mothers who have children in the affected school zones, voiced objections to Plan 5, mostly due to concerns over the ratios of limited English proficiency (LED) and economically disadvantaged students (EDS).
“I know it’s important when they come up with these plans to balance these statistics,” said Jill Browning, who has two children attending Gravely Elementary that would eventually go to Bull Run Middle under the proposed plan.
This a public school, and all children have a right to attend. Going to school is more than just the 3 R’s it is also about becoming a more well rounded human being. I believe one the of the disadvantages of being in the western end of the county is the lack of diversity, not just ethnicity, but economically.
White’s presentation indeed projects the percentage of LEP students at Bull Run Middle will rise from 3 percent to 14 percent and the ratio of EDS — students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches — will almost double, from 12 percent to 23 percent.
Reagan Middle would open at 4 percent LEP and 8 percent EDS.
Clearly, there is a proportional difference, but I believe that Bull Run has an advantage in their diversity, one that I hope Reagan Middle School will reach one day in the near future. These moms are not happy to have this diversity at their school. I wonder how they would feel if their kids attended some other middle school?
