Redistricting is on tonight’s Board of Education agenda (Thursday, 7 p.m., Staples High School cafeteria).
It’s a discussion item only. Many more steps and meetings lie ahead, before any decisions are made.
But parental anxiety is already high.
On social media and in conversations, there is concern about leaving friends, adapting to new schools, and more.
“NIMBY” might become “NIMSD”: Not in my school district!
The current Westport school district map. Hover over, or click on, to enlarge.
This would not, of course, be the first time some Westport youngsters would change schools.
It occurs every so often, over the years. Populations shift. Adjustments are needed. Stuff happens.
“Change is hard,” one parent wrote online.
Actually, kids are pretty resilient.
That was the point a Westport resident made to me recently.
He said he made friends quickly. (Some new classmates were already familiar, from outside activities.)
By the time everyone got together in Staples, he knew more people than he otherwise would have.
In fact, he said, he adjusted better to middle school and high school, because he’d already had the experience of change.
A sample size of one proves nothing, of course.
But I wonder: What the redistricting experience was like for others?
Was it stressful? Stress-free? Something in between?
Were your parents more worried than you were?
What helped you adjust to your new school? What hindered a quick adjustment?
If you changed schools during your youth in Westport — or anywhere else — click “Comments” below.
Fire away. As a new school year — with redistricting on the table — your stories are important.
(“06880” will cover the redistricting story regularly — along with the rest of the education beat, and everything else in town. If you appreciate our work, please support it by clicking here. Thank you!)