Issue: 2001 Redistricting   NPS Online Home


Summary (rev 5/29)

As part of the High School Renovation Project, the Newton School Committee voted in the spring of 2000 to review the existing school district boundaries in an effort to maximize the use of existing elementary and middle school space, as well as to create roughly equal student enrollments at Newton North and Newton South High Schools.  In order to conduct this redistricting process in an open, fair manner, with ample opportunity for all interested parties to express their points of view on the best way to achieve a comprehensive, citywide solution,  to be phased in over a four-year period beginning in September 2003, the Redistricting Task Force (RTF) was formed.  The RTF was comprised of one parent representative from each of Newton’s twenty-one schools along with a number of school department and City officials. School department staff members of the RTF were primarily responsible for collecting pertinent data and developing options for the School Committee’s consideration, while RTF parents were key communicators in keeping lines of dialogue between the schools and the RTF constantly open.
On 5/29/01, the School Committee selected Option E2 as the new redistricting plan.
 
Documents, Data and Activity (most recent items listed first)
Note: There may be other documents that pertain to this subject.  See Document Library for complete index of documents archived on NPS Online.

(12/10/01) School Committee votes to approve items outlined by Supt Young in Redistricting Issues Memo.  Specifically, it approves an exemption for concurrent siblings at the high school level, revises the out-of-district policy, approves the Cabot split line as presented, and approves the Mason-Rice choice zone.
(12/5/01) Redistricting Issues Memo from Supt Young outlines items remaining for closure to the process.  Includes draft of a new Out-Of-District Policy.  Existing Out-Of-District Policy
(5/29/01) School Committee accepts Option E-2, in three separate motions:
Motion 1: to remove Option B from consideration; passed unanimously, 9-0
Motion 2: to accept Option C; failed 2-7 (Levine and Larner voting for)
Motion 3: to accept Option E-2; passed 8-1 (Levine voting against)
(5/25/01) Revised Tables and Charts and Additional Data released for remaining Options
(5/14/01) School Committee discusses Options A, B, C, D, E1 and E2; votes to retain Options B, C, and E2 from Superintendent's Proposed Options for further analysis and discussion.  Final vote on one option will be on 5/29.
(5/7/01) Public Hearing on Redistricting Options
(5/4/01) Additional Data released (including 2 new School Committee scenarios)
6 redistricting options presented to the School Committee by the Superintendent (outcome of scenarios proposed and discussed by RTF)
(2/7/01) New, improved district maps (.jpg files)
(1/23/01) RTF Meeting #1 Support Documents
(1/20/01) Revised Redistricting Timeline
(1/8/01) Enrollment Analysis Report
Contents • Executive Summary • Part 1: Projected Trends • Part 2: Method, Accuracy, and FAQs • Part 3: History • Part 4: Individual School Reports (not currently available online) • Appendix A: Special Enrollments • Appendix B: 3-Year Ratio Projections • Appendix C: NESDEC Projections
Data from City Planning Dept regarding new developments (approved or pending approval) that will impact school enrollments.
Table summarizing current enrollments by school and how classroom-sized spaces are utilized
(1/3/01) Superintendent's redistricting letter to the citizens of Newton (includes original timeline)