Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • February 10, 2010 Franklin Lakes School board takes no action on redistricting plan by Frank J. McMahon For the present, the Franklin Lakes Board of Education has decided to take no action to balance changes in student populations in the district’s K-5 schools. The school board has decided to continue to monitor the student populations to determine if a redistricting plan will be necessary in the future. At the board’s last meeting, the trustees considered the results of a recent redistricting survey of parents and other residents in the school district. Board President Carmen Monte advised that the trustees decided to review the need for redistricting after the 2010 kindergarten and first grade enrollments are known, and when the board learns if any enrollment changes might occur due to legislative changes in the borough’s affordable housing obligation. The survey asked respondents to express their opinions on several options that could be used to reconfigure the district. One option, called the Princeton Plan, would place all pre-kindergarten and first grade students in one school building, all second and third grade students in another building , and fourth and fifth grade students in a third building. Another option, the Modified Princeton Plan, would place all pre-kindergarten to third grade students in two school buildings, and all fourth and fifth grade students in one school. A third option, the Neighborhood Schools Plan, would maintain all kindergarten to fifth grade students in three school buildings but with redrawn boundaries around the elementary schools. A fourth option was to leave the school placements and boundaries as they are. There were 454 responses to the survey, of which 430 were from parents. Seven percent, or 31 responders, chose the Princeton Plan; 10 percent, or 49 responders, chose the Modified Princeton Plan; and 30 percent, or 140 responders, chose the Neighborhood Schools Plan. Three percent, or 13 responders, chose the “least expensive” option, but 221 responders representing 47 percent of those surveyed, chose the option of leaving the schools as they are. Advantages of the Princeton Plan that were listed in the survey included the fact that students would spend their entire K-8 school experience together and there would be flexibility in the number of sections and potential staff cost savings due to fewer overall classes. Disadvantages were listed as the split up of siblings and an increase in the cost of busing as students from all parts of the borough would be bused under that plan. Start times for drop-offs and bus efficiency would need to be staggered, and there would be a lack of sense of ownership and connection for students and the Parent Teacher Association. The advantages of the Modified Princeton Plan would be having grades four through eight together with flexibility in the number of sections and potential staff cost savings. There would also be less busing than the Princeton Plan and the youngest students would not be required to be on a bus for a longer time. Disadvantages of this plan included the split up of siblings between the pre-K to grade three school building and the grade four and five school building, and school busing, although less than the Princeton Plan, would still be more than the current cost of busing. In addition, the shorter twoyear program in the grade four and five building would lead to less staff knowledge of the students. But STILL can’t lose that Tummy or Cellulite? Call me about VelaShapeTM A NEW Nonsurgical method of Fat reduction and body contouring • Non-invasive • No Anesthesia • No Downtime Beverly Dunn, MD Waldwick, NJ • 201-445-0032 Dieting? Working Out? The teen book club at the Franklin Lakes Library will discuss Laurie Halse Anderson’s “Chains” on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Book Club for Teens welcomes readers in grades seven, eight, and nine to meet from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Franklin Lakes Public Library on the last Wednesday of each month. The selection for the March 31 discussion will be Teens to discuss Anderson novel “Nation” by Terry Pratchett. Books for each month can be picked up at the front desk at Franklin Lakes Public Library. Snacks are always served. Registration is ongoing; register by e-mailing kate_ thelibrarian@yahoo.com or by calling the library at (201) 891-2224. For more information, check the library’s website at www.franklinlakeslibrary.org. 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