Dear Neighbors of Windsor Forest and Westmoreland
March 10, 2010 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
Dear Neighbors of Windsor Forest and Westmoreland,
I’ve had a child in the WJCC school system for seven years and this is the first year I’ve actually been worried about our school situation. I think our neighborhoods are about to be caught up in the politics of this redistricting and not in a good way.
There is a school board meeting Thursday night at 6:30 over at the County Complex (Building F) off of Mounts Bay that we all need to attend! Right now, our neighborhoods are slated to attend Bland Blayton elementary school next year. It’s a new school, but we’ll see plenty of wonderful DJ teachers and specialists that are leaving DJ to work there. I think it will be a good situation for us, even though we will be driving a little further to attend the school.
Not only do I think it will be a good school, I think that this latest redistricting map will be the most balanced for all students throughout Williamsburg and JCC. DJ is currently 37 % free and reduced lunches, while Matoaka is 19%. With this change, Matoaka will stay the same, DJ will go down at around 30% and Blayton will be around 25%. Changes had to be made due to overcrowding. (Why build a new school, only to leave several schools over 100% of capacity?) So, it was a domino effect with schools moving students to alleviate this overcrowding.
Now here’s the problem: No one at Matoaka wants to move! (Why would they? It’s considered the golden school?) Spring Hill has been changed the last four times and are tired of it. I get that. Powhatan Secondary (200 students) doesn’t want to be split. Who does? But I heard this argument last time around with Ford’s Colony and I don’t think it helped DJ or the redistricting plan. If no one from Matoaka moves, it will have a negative effect on DJ and Bland Blayton.
Powhatan is planning to come out in droves tomorrow night to show their support for keeping Matoaka the way it is. Unfortunately, this effects us, our kids, our school, our property values! I’m feeling bullied by these groups and am afraid, through their show of support, they’ll get what they want. So, I’m asking YOU to stand up. We need to start by emailing the school board and telling them stick to their criteria, stay the course, and not to be bullied! (schoolboardmembers@wjcc.k12.va.us) We need to show up at the meeting tomorrow night and show our support for making the schools more equal! This is the last public meeting before they decide what to do. We have to stand up now or we’ll have no right to complain.
6:30 Thursday night
County Complex, Building F
Mounts Bay (right before Kingsmill entrance)
Let me know if you can make it. Please, consider helping our neighborhood by telling our School Board Members to be fair to all of us!
Mary Berry
5 Sussex Court