Parents, students protest moving children to different high schools

Round Rock ISD school boundary changes slated for action at the board of trustees meeting Feb. 16 have sparked a wide range of emotional responses from the community.

While new lines for the new Elsa England Elementary School did receive some opposition, a number of people spoke out against the changes to Cedar Ridge High School's boundaries meant to relieve overcrowding.

The boundary changes would move students in the Wells Branch subdivision from Cedar Ridge to McNeil, among other changes.

The proposed boundaries sparked sharp responses from parents and students alike, and a standing room–only crowd lined up at the Jan. 19 Round Rock ISD board of trustees meeting to share stories about the effect the proposed boundary changes could have on their lives.

Several parents and students held up signs showing their support for current district feeder patterns that could be disrupted by boundary changes. Signs that read "Keep GOE at RRHS," "GO = RTW," and "VA at Wells Branch" could be spotted throughout the Round Rock High School lecture hall where the meeting took place.

Cedar Ridge freshman Jordan Farris shared the personal effect boundary changes had on him.

"I remember going to Cedar Ridge freshman orientation and how shocking it was because I had to do it all on my own. My grades suffered," he said during the comments portion of the presentation.

Several parents and students shared similar stories where students were eating their lunch in the bathroom because they did not know anyone at their school and how changing school adversely affected their grades.

Committee Chair Tom McDonald emphasized the goal of the Citizen's Boundary Committee was to relieve Cedar Ridge High School of overcrowding and establish attendance boundaries for Elsa England Elementary—scheduled to open fall—while impacting the smallest number of students possible.

The committee's recommendation for 2012–13 boundary changes to the Round Rock ISD board of trustees was to approve the district's proposal with the following modifications:

Allow high school students to remain at their high school regardless of the boundary change. The high school boundary changes would impact about 120 current current eighth graders.

Recommend boundaries for Elsa England Elementary School that include the area proposed by the district plus the Highland Horizon area. The Morningside and Davis Springs neighborhoods would move from Sommer Elementary School to England Elementary School, and the Highland Horizon neighborhood would move from Deep Wood Elementary School to England Elementary. Current fourth graders would be allowed to remain at their campus for the fifth grade.

In addition, the committee supported transfer policies that encourage improved enrollment balance for the elementary and high schools affected.

McDonald said the committee arrived at its recommendation after conducting a survey and analyzing community feedback, touring schools that would be affected and hosting public hearings and workshop meetings.

Board member Terri Romere said making decisions regarding boundary changes can be challenging because it can be an emotionally charged issue. It pits "neighbors against neighbors and friends against friends," she said.

Board member Glen Colby said boundary changes will always be a possibility for a growing district.

"If there's a little righteous indignation [referring to speakers during the comments portion], it's because they're caught up in something that they didn't feel they had a heads-up on," he said.