School board advances Forest‑zone redistricting plan, schedules public hearing for Oct. 9

The Bedford County School Board voted Sept. 11 to move forward with a redistricting proposal intended to relieve classroom and facility capacity at Forest Elementary and New London Academy and to rebalance enrollment across nearby elementary schools.

The proposal — a revision of a plan first presented May 8 — would keep changes inside the Forest zone while shifting neighborhoods so that "all of Lake Vista would then go to Thomas Jefferson" and moving a portion of New London Academy’s attendance area toward Otter River, among other adjustments, school staff said. The board set a public hearing for its Oct. 9 meeting and directed staff to notify affected families and prepare follow‑up materials.

Board members and staff told the board Forest Elementary is at or near maximum room for basic K‑5 programming. Executive team data showed Forest Elementary at 98% capacity as of Aug. 30; New London is near capacity for rooms that can host resource classes and has a small cafeteria and library; Otter River remains underused and is the most expensive elementary to operate per pupil because of low enrollment. The staff plan, if implemented as presented, would redistribute students so the four schools would be in the mid‑80s to low‑90s percent of capacity, while flagging that Otter River’s projections rely on a long‑used mobile classroom that maintenance says needs roof work.

Dr. Calvert, an executive‑team presenter, described the map and the principal routing rationale: "All of Lake Vista would then go to Thomas Jefferson," she said while pointing to the proposed boundary lines. The executive team told the board they had consulted bus routing staff in designing the plan and made small, targeted changes intended to shorten bus routes and reduce duplicate buses serving the same neighborhoods.

Board members debated timing and scope. Some members urged action now to avoid adding portable classrooms at Forest, while others recommended limiting the first phase to changes needed immediately for Forest Elementary and postponing broader changes until the new board is seated after November elections. The board also discussed grandfathering arrangements for students already enrolled in affected schools; the superintendent’s office said administrative procedures and possible grandfathering language would be part of the formal redistricting process.

On formal action, the board first voted to suspend rules so it could act on the redistricting proposal brought earlier in the year. The motion to suspend the rules was moved by Mr. Daniels and seconded by Dr. Heebach; the board passed the motion (aye: Pedrosian, Daniels, M. Hill, Dr. Heebach, Dr. Hubach, Miss Pervis; no: Eshill). Later, the board approved a motion to proceed with the presented plan and to hold a public hearing and solicit public feedback before final action; the board appointed Oct. 9 as the meeting that will include that public hearing and left open the option to make adjustments after public comment.

Next steps: staff will send written notices to families in the areas that would be affected under the current proposal, post maps and explanatory materials, hold the public hearing on Oct. 9, and return to the board with any revisions for possible final adoption. The executive team also said it will coordinate with county GIS and transportation to update school assignments, bus routes and timing if the board adopts the plan.

The redistricting presentation and the maps the board reviewed reflect county development estimates provided by the county planning commission; staff warned the board the estimates can change and that projected new‑home build‑out could increase demand further in coming years.