Larger School Redistricting Now Up For Discussion

A seemingly favored "hybrid" plan to address overcrowding at Stratfield School moving the incoming fourth-graders to Burr Elementary School and redistricting incoming kindergartners to McKinley School has fallen by the wayside as half the board now wants to look into a larger redistricting plan that could involve as many as five schools.
Weeks ago, rookie Board of Education member Pam Iacono was brave enough to mention the "R" word and her desire for a more far-reaching redistricting plan. On Tuesday night, others expressed their desire, like Iacono, for a long-term solution rather than a temporary fix.
Member Dave Weber was critical of the expanded redistricting recommendation. Speaking from past experience serving on the board, including a stint as chairman, Weber said redistricting "tears communities apart." Brenda Kupchick, who, like Weber, has served more than five years, did not embrace the proposal for a large redistricting. She supported the hybrid plan. Weber, however, was not supportive of the hybrid option, as part of it proposed to permanently redistrict incoming kindergartners who would have gone to Stratfield to McKinley School. Weber was in favor of addressing overcrowding at Stratfield by moving a grade to McKinley for two years only.
The board has a month to decide which option is the best to address overcrowding at Stratfield. Weber and Kupchick both feel this is too short a period of time to decide who will go where if half the board is interested in the idea of a mini-redistricting possibly involving five schools. READ MORE: http://www.fairfieldcitizen-news.com/breakingnews/ci_11698453