VIRGINIA BEACH–The Virginia Beach School Board voted to approve a redistricting plan Tuesday night with one small change. Board members voted 6-4, in favor of a last minute amendment to one of the plans affecting Cooke Elementary school. About two dozen Students who live in the far northeast section of Cooke’s district can stay put. Board members said it’s geographically the most logical thing to do.
“People here in the far north corner were carved out of the plan. It doesn’t represent very many students they were the farthest away that’s why they carved them out and left them here at Cooke,” said parent and attorney Kevin Martingayle, who spoke on behalf of all the parents who were angry their children may be moved from Cooke.
They’re happy their kids get to stay at Cooke, saying the school has become family to them.
The rest of the students at Cooke, however, will be shifted to Seatack. Some students from Seatack will be moving to Birdneck. In all, about 650 students in Virginia Beach will be in new schools in the upcoming year.
It’s all to balance the population in schools. Studies show some schools are overcrowded while others are under capacity. There are many reasons for the changes, including the economy, a rising birthrate, a rise in homeless population, and increasing number of shared housing. More and more kids are also going from private to public schools these days.
Demographer Donald Greer says it’s important to optimize space to create the best learning environment. Cooke Elementary School for example is about 20% over capacity, and kids are studying in portables.
“I don’t really like the portables, I can see them outside when I’m running during PE,” said 9 year old Vance Newsome who is in the 3rd grade at Cooke.
Under the approved redistricting plan, students at Birdneck, Brookwood, Cooke, Green Run, Landstown, Lynnhaven, Malibu, and Seatack elementary schools along with Lynnhaven and Virginia Beach middle schools, would be affected.
By WVEC.com
March 21, 2012