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Highland parent warns redistricting could diminish PTO; district pledges transition support
Summary
A Highland parent told the Cheshire Board of Education that Scenario E would "diminish" the PTO board and community ties; the superintendent said the district will support families and re-establish school culture during the transition and offered online tools to locate addresses under proposed maps.
At a public presentation on redistricting, Highland parent and PTO treasurer Tiffany Morrissey said proposed map Scenario E would fragment Highland's parent leadership and community supports, urging the district to preserve school culture and peer-group connections as attendance zones change.
"In scenario e, Highland's entire PTO board is diminished," Morrissey said, asking the district to ensure opportunities for parents and students to form new bonds following boundary changes. Superintendent Jeff Solon acknowledged the PTO's contributions, thanked local volunteers and said the district is "sensitive to that as part of the transition process," adding that once attendance zones are finalized the district will help families visit new schools and rebuild community activities.
Context: The consultant presented five redistricting scenarios (A–E) designed to assign students to two new elementary schools and rebalance enrollment. Officials emphasized measures to preserve program elements and provide "headroom" in facilities so schools can accommodate future enrollee increases and maintain core offerings.
What families can do: The district posted an interactive map viewer and a "home-finder" tool so parents can type an address or enable location services to see how scenarios would affect their child's school assignment. Officials also encouraged written feedback via the board's redistricting email address.
The board did not take a vote at the presentation; staff said they will use feedback and a forthcoming transportation analysis to recommend a preferred map to the board in December.
