Parents Protest Proposed School Boundary Changes
Some parents in Wayzata Schools are not happy with a proposed change in school boundaries. About a dozen families met to walk to their neighborhood school, Greenwood Elementary, to protest possible changes.
“We are here to join together as a community and walk to Greenwood,” says Danny Dobrin, a parent of two school-age daughters. Dobrin lives five blocks away from the school, but other families can see Greenwood Elementary from their backyards. “We are banding together to walk to Greenwood to show solidarity and show the school board that this is our neighborhood school and we want to stay here.”
Proposed boundary changes have the families moving to Oakwood Elementary school, which is about a mile and a half away.
Reasons behind the Wayzata Schools Boundary Changes
Wayzata Schools keeps growing. New subdivisions in northwest Plymouth attract new families and the district has worked to keep up. A new elementary school will open this fall and a committee of local parents has been collaborating to determine how to adjust boundaries. “It is actually more complex than one would think,” says Kristin Tollison, director of administrative services for Wayzata Schools. “The positive part of this is when we watch the community members come together with different perspectives. I watch them put personal things aside and really focus on what’s best for the kids. It is very heartfelt.”
Families went through a boundary change three years ago. This boundary change should be less of an impact, with just more than 600 elementary students and more than 100 middle school students who could be moved. “Most children and families really love their school. Nobody raises their hand and says please move us,” says Tollison. “In elementary schools, we are taking whole neighborhoods and moving them together. So at least you know you are going with everyone else at your bus stop.”
Families in the neighborhood near Greenwood Elementary still do not want to be moved. They are encouraged by previous successes. “It worked a couple of years ago,” says Dobrin. “I feel like if we put forth the same effort, come together as a community and show we are compassionate about this, we’re hopeful we’ll achieve the same results.”
What’s next for the proposed Wayzata Schools Boundary Changes
Parents are invited to review the presentation on the proposed changes from the April 23 board meeting. The school board will host a public input session at Central Middle School on Wednesday, May 2 starting at 7 p.m.
The board plans to make its final vote on the boundary changes on May 14.
