Redistricting Plan Would Move 383 Groton Elementary Students

Groton’s redistricting plan would send 383 of the district’s 2,317 elementary students to a different school next year, Superintendent Paul Kadri told the Board of Education Monday.

The plan would have the biggest impact on Mary Morrisson Elementary, Pleasant Valley Elementary and Catherine Kolnaski Magnet School, in terms of students moving in, out or both. Charles Barnum would lose few children but see a significant number move in.

School Board members will hold public information sessions next week to explain the plans and get feedback from parents. The dates and times of the sessions, to be held at Mary Morrisson, Pleasant Valley and Catherine Kolnaski Magnet, have not yet been scheduled.

Kadri said two schools – Catherine Kolnaski and S.B. Butler - would remain out of compliance with the state’s racial balance laws after redistricting, but only by a few students. Kadri said he believes he can correct the imbalance by shifting programs.

“What I’m telling you is I feel pretty good about every school except the two, and what we’re going to do is move kids into those schools through programs,” he told the school board.

The board of education is expected after the community meetings. The redistricting proposals are also summarized on the school department's website.

The number of students, by school, who would move as a result of redistricting are listed below:

• Catherine Kolnaski would see 18 children move in from elsewhere and 76 leave after redistricting. The school has 503 students physically living within its boundaries now; it would have 445 assigned to it after redistricting.

• Charles Barnum would see 118 children move in and five leave after redistricting. The school has 327 students physically living within its boundaries now; it would have 440 assigned to it after redistricting.

• Claude Chester would see 40 children move in and 27 leave after redistricting. The school has 335 students physically living within its boundaries now; it would have 348 assigned to it after redistricting.

• Mary Morrisson would see 146 children move in and 95 leave after redistricting. The school has 348 students physically living within its boundaries now; it would have 399 assigned to it after redistricting.

• Northeast Academy would see one child move in and 23 leave after redistricting. The school has 398 students physically living within its boundaries now; it would have 376 assigned to it after redistricting.

• Pleasant Valley would see 98 children move in and 180 leave after redistricting. The school has 443 students physically living within its boundaries now; it would have 361 assigned to it after redistricting.

• S.B. Butler would see 19 children move in and 34 leave after redistricting. The school has 311 students physically living within its boundaries now; it would have 296 assigned to it after redistricting.