Comments on: Three More K-3 Rezoning Options Posted on CSD Website

By: At Home in Decatur

At Home in Decatur — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 13:57:23 +0000

I think there’s some families of young children in the Westchester area who are eager to have a neighborhood school. Hopefully they will step up to the plate. There will be more and more of such families as the Oakhurst area becomes too pricey for many and folks buy instead the cheaper, unrenovated, less quaint Westchester brick and asbestos siding 40s/50s era homes.

By: just cranky

just cranky — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 04:47:40 +0000

Emily, I hope that you will advocate for Westchester, as no one else seems to be doing that. People in the other neighborhoods are being quite vocal, but who speaks for a school community that stopped existing ten years ago?

By: At Home in Decatur

At Home in Decatur — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 15:36:49 +0000

Nicely said and many former Westchester families would share your sentiment. Losing a neighborhood school is a loss. It is a natural and positive phenomenon for families and neighbors to bond to their neighborhood school. Of course survivable, but still a real loss for a neighborhood. It’s hard to see other families go through redistricting and I wish them the best.

By: Emily Kandetzki

Emily Kandetzki — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 15:18:02 +0000

Just a reminder that the Glennwood community lost our neighborhood school for 7 years back in 2004. We were districted to WP for all 7 years that my two middle children were in K-3. This is while we had 4 children in 4 different schools. Walking was out of the question for us, even though we bought our house specifically so we could walk to Glennwood which is .8 miles away. That reconfiguration was heart wrenching for us and changed our lives tremendously–a change sustained over two of our kids’ entire elementary experience. No, I’m still not over it, but we are at least lucky that WP was a great school, even though we did feel like “outsiders,” especially because our children didn’t walk and roll.

I am thrilled that we got Glennwood back, and it is an amazing school. Pain will be felt by some people in this process, and I for one am acutely aware of that pain. That’s why I wanted to serve on the committee–so that I could help to mitigate that pain for as many people as possible. I am disappointed that K-5s we’re not considered in this rendition, but I know they will in a few years. Meanwhile, whatever cards you are dealt, you can make the most of them by getting involved in your child’s school, being supportive of the teachers and principal, and walking everywhere ELSE as much as possible! My heart goes out to those who are going to lose their neighborhood schools.

By: Momofboys

Momofboys — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 17:51:37 +0000

All maps have us redistricted to Westchester and will make for the third City of Decatur elementary school between my two boys (’10-’11 – Oakhurst, ’12-’13 – Clairmont & finishing 3rd Grade at Westchester). I wish my greatest school concern was walkability but it is not – little to do with actual education. My son loves F.AVE and would be a shame to revert back to “old school” mentality of K-5 so kids can walk to school.