Letter to the Redistricting Committee

This is a letter Danette Melchionne has written to the BOE Redistricting Committee concerning options 1and 2, and their likely ramifications on the bilingual program. Please feel free to comment below and add your voice to the conversation.


To the Redistricting Committee:

I would like to first acknowledge all the countless hours and hard work that is being put into the redistricting of the Stamford Schools. I’m the first one on board with the need for redistricting. It is very much needed amongst all the schools. I realize the entire process is going to be disheartening to many families and some of the changes are unavoidable, which makes this task difficult for everyone involved. My children fortunately will not be directly impacted in the changes but will be indirectly.

My one main concern is with Options 1 & 2 which both propose “moving” the bilingual program from KT Murphy to Northeast.

What happens to the families that opt not to participate in the bilingual program?

Due to the location of the program it creates the following cascading issues:

· Many of the bilingual parents walk their children to school. If moved, this would create the inability to get to their child if needed, or to be able to attend any type of meeting, events or programs.

· Faced with this concern as a bilingual parent it is inevitable that those same families that would otherwise enroll their children in the bilingual program will therefore enroll in the English program at Murphy.

As a result this will not only hinder the bilingual students learning capabilities, but will impact the teachers, other students, and test scores. KT Murphy and the City of Stamford employ some great administrators, teachers and staff, but we are setting those exceptional educators up for failure. They are not equipped or prepared to effectively address additional learning needs that will be required with the Spanish speaking students that do enroll in the English based programming due to the demographics.

Bottom line: moving the bilingual program in its entirety is not going to address the current overcrowding in the school, disadvantaged population or improve test scores.

I know you all have spent countless hours on the 4 options proposed. I hope you please take my above concerns in consideration when preparing for your final vote.

In summary on behalf of KT Murphy:

· Yes we need redistricting.

· Yes we need to address overcrowding.

· Yes we need to address balancing the disadvantaged population.

· Yes we need to improve our test scores.

· Yes this will breakup up a “community”.

· Yes offer dual programming at KT Murphy. The program and teachers are there. It works. Why recreate something that is currently working?

· NONE of this will be achieved by moving the bilingual program in its entirety to the complete opposite end of Stamford. I work on Summer Street and reside in the Cove. It takes me over a ½ hour each way some days to get to and from work. I can’t imagine a student sitting on a bus for longer than my simple commute. Let’s put that 1 plus each day to better use, with programming or study time. Options 1 & 2 also increase walkers into riders which as we all know is $$ that can put towards teachers, programming, etc.

Thank you for your time and I hope you will please review and take my above concerns into consideration when you make your final vote on Tuesday evening. I trust you will make the right choice for the future of KTM students and for all the Stamford Schools.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments.


Regards.



Danette Melchionne