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Minutes from the VHSL Redistricting and Reclassification Meet
January 26, 2010
10:00 a.m.
I. Members Present: Dave Melton, Chairman, Fredericksburg City Superintendent, Jeff Crook, Central Region, Patrick Henry High School; Mike Nichols, Eastern Region, Heritage High School; Tim Thomas, Northern Region, Westfield High School; Susan Ross, Northwest Region, Loudoun Valley High School; Harper Donahoe, Region I, Caroline High School; Doug Straley, Region II, Louisa County High School; Stephen Leaman, Region III, Broadway High School; Steve Spangler, Region IV, Cave Spring High School; Stan Latham, Region A, Sussex Central High School; Steve Barnett, Region B, Riverheads High School; Barry Hollandsworth, Region C, Floyd County High School; Larry Compton, Region D, Haysi High School; and Ken Tilley, VHSL. Others: Lora Bickley, recording secretary, Mike McCall and Joyce Sisson, VHSL; as well as Peter Jones, Nottoway High School; John Nelson, Sherando High School; Jason Barbe, Sherando High School; Katie Brunelle, William Monroe High School; Mike Jamerson, William Monroe High School; Marc Cole, Orange County High School; Jim Stemple, Mountain View High School and Dave Jeck, Greene County Schools.
II. Minutes from November 17, 2009, meeting: Sue Ross moved, Harper Donahoe seconded and the committee voted 12-0 to accept the November 17 minutes as presented.
III. Agenda approval: Steve Leaman moved, Sue Ross seconded and the committee voted 12-0 to approve the agenda as presented.
IV. Reports from Regions:
Region D Larry Compton reported that his region was in support of Grundy moving from Group AA to Group A, Black Diamond District.
Region C Barry Hollandsworth reported that his region was in support of Graham moving from Group AA to Group A, Mountain Empire District.
Region B Steve Barnett reported that his region was in support of Stonewall Jackson moving from Bull Run District back into the Shenandoah District. In regard to Central (W) and William Monroe moving from Group AA to Group A when their numbers are within the Group AA range, there was support from Shenandoah District for both schools to move down, limited support from Bull Run District for William Monroe and opposition from the region for both schools to move down. The other two districts felt we need to adhere to the cut-offs numbers. Two schools in Region I, Bluestone and Nottoway, have requested to play down and their numbers justify the requests. The region has not voted on these two requests but since the numbers justify the move to Group A, the region will be supportive of the move.
Region A Stan Latham advised there are no requests from his region.
Region IV Steve Spangler advised that his region was supportive of the move of Graham and Grundy to Group A. While the region has not met on the requests from Patrick Henry and William Fleming, he did get calls from schools in the region opposing these two requests.
Region III Steve Leaman reported that there are no requests from his region.
Region II Doug Straley announced that his region had an emergency meeting to act on the modification requests. The region did not act on the requests from Powhatan moving from Southside District to Jefferson District or Culpeper and Eastern View moving from Battlefield District to Evergreen District.
Region I Harper Donahoe reported that three schools want to move out of Region I into Region II, Culpeper, Eastern View (Evergreen District) and Powhatan (Jefferson District). Two schools, who previously played up, Bluestone and Nottoway, want to move down to Group A, Region B, James River District since their numbers justify the move.
Northwest Region Sue Ross reported that the region supported the request to remain in Group AA from Sherando and Orange. The Western Valley District was opposed to the request from Patrick Henry and William Fleming to move down to Group AA.
Northern Region Tim Thomas indicated things were quiet in his region.
Eastern Region Mike Nichols reported that his region is satisfied with the region alignment.
Central Region Jeff Crook reported that his region is also satisfied with the region alignment.
V. Review of materials and rationale for initial proposal:
A. Initial Proposed Alignment Plan
B. Membership Numbers
C. Present alignment – 2009-10 and 2010-11
VI. Review parameters:
A. Align schools into three classifications
B. Allow schools to play out of classification (up by request; down on a case-by-case basis using geography as the main determining factor)
C. Balance as much as possible
D. No others were identified
VII. Modification Proposals: See below.
VIII. Action on modification proposals:
Stonewall Jackson (Q) -- Steve Barnett moved, Stan Latham seconded and the committee voted 12-0 toapprove the request by Stonewall Jackson to be assigned to the Shenandoah District rather than the Bull Run District. Justification: Both districts were in support of this move.
Bluestone – Harper Donahoe moved, Steve Barnett seconded and the committee voted 12-0 to approve the request by Bluestone to be assigned to Group A, Region B, James River District rather than Group AA, Region I, Southside District. Justification: September 30, 2009 enrollment numbers show Bluestone in Group A.
Nottoway – Harper Donahoe moved, Stan Latham seconded and the committee voted 12-0 to approve the request by Nottoway to be assigned to Group A, Region B, James River District rather than Group AA, Region I, Southside District. Justification: September 30, 2009 enrollment numbers show Nottoway in Group A
Central (W) – Doug Straley moved, Harper Donahoe seconded and the committee voted 1-11 (Straley voting yes) to approve the request by Central (W) to be assigned to Group A, Region B, district to be determined rather than Group AA, Region II, Northwestern District. Justification: The Shenandoah District and Region II supports the move in view of Central (W) being a “bubble” school; but geography is not a compelling factor, and some concerns exist in Group A for playing down. Thus the motion failed.
William Monroe – Doug Straley moved, Harper Donahoe seconded and the committee voted 2-10 (Straley and Donahoe voting yes) to approve the request by William Monroe to be assigned to Group A, Region B, district to be determined rather than Group AA, Region II, Jefferson District. Justification: William Monroe is only one student over the Group A cut off and there is a 23 student difference in Group AA and Group AAA; however, geography is not a compelling factor, and some concerns exist in Group A for playing down. Thus the motion failed.
Doug Straley moved, Steve Barnett seconded and the committee voted 2-10 (Straley and Barnett
voting yes) to redraw the thirds and have 104 AAA schools, 103 AA schools and 104 A schools which would automatically move William Monroe to Group A. Thus the motion failed.
Graham – Steve Spangler moved, Barry Hollandsworth seconded and the committee voted 12-0 to approve Graham’s request to be assigned to Group A, Region C, Mountain Empire District rather than Group AA, Region IV, Southwest District. Justification: The September 30, 2009 enrollment numbers support this request as do the Mountain Empire District and Region C.
Grundy – Steve Spangler moved, Larry Compton seconded and the committee voted 12-0 to approve Grundy’s request to be assigned to Group A, Region D, Black Diamond District rather than Group AA, Region IV, Southwest District. Justification: The September 30, 2009 enrollment numbers support this request as do the Lonesome Pine District and Region D.
Powhatan – Harper Donahoe moved, Stan Latham seconded and the committee voted 12-0 to approve
Powhatan’s request to be assigned to Group AA, Region II, Jefferson District rather than Group AA, Region I, Southside District. Justification: Geography and they are the largest school in the Southside District.
Culpeper County – Harper Donahoe moved, Doug Straley seconded and the committee vote 0-12 to approve Eastern View’s request to be assigned the Group AA, Region II, Evergreen District rather than Group AA, Region I, Battlefield District. Justification: Since there was opposition from Evergreen District and geography was not a factor, the motion failed.
Eastern View -- Harper Donahoe moved, Stan Latham seconded and the committee vote 0-12 to approve Culpeper County’s request to be assigned the Group AA, Region II, Evergreen District rather than Group AA, Region I, Battlefield District. Justification: Since there was opposition from Evergreen District and geography was not a factor, the motion failed.
Orange County – Doug Straley moved, Sue Ross seconded and the committee voted 1-11 (Straley voting yes) to approve Orange County’s request to be assigned to Group AA, Region II, Jefferson District rather than Group AAA, Northwest Region, Commonwealth District. Justification: The Jefferson District unanimously approved this request and Region II supported the request by a 14-9 vote; however, geography is not a compelling factor and some concerns exist in Group AA for playing down. Thus the motion failed.
Sherando – Stan Latham moved, Barry Hollandsworth seconded and the committee voted 1-11 (Straley voting yes) to approve Sherando’s request to be assigned the Group AA, Region II, Northwestern District rather than Group AAA, Northwest Region, Cedar Run District. Justification: Even though the school division might consider a redistricting plan, this action has not yet taken place. Thus the motion failed.
Patrick Henry (Roanoke) – Sue Ross moved, Barry Hollandsworth seconded and the committee voted 0-12 to approve Patrick Henry’s request to be assigned to Group AA, region and district to be determined, rather than Group AAA, Northwest Region, Western Valley District. Justification: Travel is a concern from the school but both the Blue Ridge and River Ridge districts (the two likely receiving districts) were opposed and the remaining Western Valley schools were also opposed to the move. Thus the motion failed.
William Fleming – Sue Ross moved, Barry Hollandsworth seconded and the committee voted 0-12 to approve William Fleming’s request to be assigned to Group AA, region and district to be determined, rather than Group AAA, Northwest Region, Western Valley District. Justification: Travel is a concern from the school but both the Blue Ridge and River Ridge districts (the two likely receiving districts) were opposed and the remaining Western Valley schools were also opposed to the move. Thus the motion failed.
Patriot (New Prince William County High School) – Sue Ross moved, Tim Thomas seconded and the
committee voted 12-0 to approve Patriot’s request to be assigned to Group AAA, Northwest Region, Cedar Run District rather than Group AA, Region II, Northwestern District. Justification: Cedar Run District supports this modification and from a geography standpoint it is a better placement.
IX. Appeals timeline and preview:
• The revised plan will be presented to the Executive Committee at the February 24 meeting
• The revised plan will be discussed at the March meetings
• March 17 – deadline to receive written appeal requests for the April 19 R&R Appeals Meeting
• March 19 – all appeals will be posted on the VHSL website
• March 29 – deadline to receive any written objections to appeals posted on the website
• April 1 – all requests will be posted, appeals and objections
• R&R Committee will meet April 19 (tentative time 9:00 a.m.) to consider final appeals; after acting on appeals, the committee will present its final plan with justification for Executive Committee approval in May. The Executive Committee will hear no appeals. Protocol for appeals: 5 minutes for presentation; 5 minutes for objections; 5 minutes for questions by the committee. All appellants are to provide any justification in writing.
X. Business from the floor:
Steve Leaman moved, Harper Donahoe seconded and the committee voted 12-0 to recommend that by September 30, 2011 schools playing up are to submit a written notice of intent to play up in the next R&R cycle to the VHSL office. This will assist the R&R Committee when they meet to begin work on the next R&R cycle (2013-14 and2014-15).
Steve Leaman moved, Steve Spangler seconded and the committee voted 10-2 (Barnett and Latham voting no) to recommend that if we continue to reclassify into three classes that in order to balance Group AA for the next cycle (2013-14 and 2014-15) that the Blue Ridge District move to Region IV and the Jefferson District move to Region III. Stan Latham moved, Larry Compton seconded and the committee voted 12-0 to recommend meeting in advance of the September 2011 meeting to discuss the R&R process from a “big picture” perspective.
XI. Adjournment: Their being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
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