Sarah Webb is a Westporter, working in fashion marketing. She moved here 4 years ago.
She has a 6-year-old daughter who is “thriving” at Long Lots Elementary School, and a 4-year-old son eager to join her next year.
Sarah says, “I feel the need for stability for all the kids who grew up during COVID is paramount.” Speaking on behalf of a group of parents, she writes:
As the Westport Board of Education considers a proposed redistricting plan, many parents are expressing deep concerns about the potential negative effects on their children’s emotional stability and social connections during a crucial developmental stage.
The BOE has enlisted the expertise of demographers Mike Zuba and Pat Gallagher from M&P Planning Group to devise a phased approach to redistricting.
The first phase focuses on addressing enrollment disparities among elementary schools that feed into Bedford Middle School, with a second phase planned for those feeding into Coleytown Middle School.
In Phase 1, the favored Scenario A1 suggests transferring students from Long Lots Elementary School to Saugatuck Elementary School, starting in the 2025-2026 school year.
Saugatuck Elementary School: one part of a redistricting plan …
Current projections show LLS will have 604 students in 29 sections, while SES will have only 400 students across 20 sections. If approved, LLS would see a decrease to 546 students and 27 sections, while SES would increase to 459 students and 24 sections.
Dependent on the impact of phase 1, Phase 2 sees 36 Kings Highway students moving to Coleytown once the new LLS school rebuild is complete, circa 2028.
This proposal arises from new kindergarten enrollment regulations, and a rebound in student numbers post-COVID. Yet with new housing developments such as The Hamlet of Saugatuck on the horizon, and schools like Kings Highway and Green Farms experiencing record enrollments, many parents worry about the long-term effectiveness of this plan.
At the October 10 Board of Ed meeting, parents of affected students passionately expressed their fears. They urged the board to consider a grandfathering provision that would allow existing students and their siblings to remain in their current schools. Our children have built friendships and established their identities within these communities, especially after growing up during the pandemic. The emotional and academic toll of uprooting them is significant.
When students are abruptly moved to new schools, they face more than just a change in address. Research shows that transitions like these can have negative impacts on academic performance, social relationships, and mental health. For many, the middle of a school year or the beginning of a new one is an overwhelming time to make new friends, adjust to different teaching styles, and feel like they belong.
The emotional cost of this disruption is especially severe for children with special needs, those who are introverted, or those who have already struggled with socialization. In some cases, these transitions can set students back months or even years academically. Grandfathering prevents these adverse effects by allowing students to complete their time in a familiar environment.
Grandfathering offers districts a practical, compassionate way to implement redistricting without causing unnecessary harm to families. It allows district leaders to achieve their goals — whether they be reducing overcrowding, balancing resources, or addressing demographic changes — while still prioritizing the well-being of the students at the heart of these decisions.
… and Kings Highway, another.
For parents, the argument is clear: Stability matters. Children need consistency to thrive, especially in their early years. Grandfathering isn’t just a concession — it’s an investment in the emotional and educational success of students, and an acknowledgment of the deep-rooted connections families form within their school communities.
As the BOE prepares to make its decision, the community is at a crossroads. Many understand balancing enrollments is essential, but urge the BOE to look at grandfathering existing students and their siblings to avoid the huge emotional and social ramifications for these children would face
Parents hope the BOE will recognize the importance of maintaining stability for their children, ensuring that the proposed changes do not come at the cost of their well-being.
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He’d been redistricted when he was in elementary school. (And, he said, some kids changed schools twice during those years.)