Cheshire Board of Education adopts scenario B2 attendance zones, approves legacy waiver program

The Cheshire Board of Education voted unanimously on Dec. 30 to adopt new elementary school attendance zones under “scenario B2,” to take effect in the 2026–27 school year, and directed Superintendent Jeff Solon to implement a legacy priority waiver program for families affected by redistricting.

Superintendent Jeff Solon, who led the district’s redistricting effort, told the board the plan was developed with MP Planning Group to balance enrollment across four elementary schools as new buildings come online. Solon said the district’s five- and 10-year projections put utilization for the four schools at roughly 89%, 89%, 85% and 90%, and that Highland is “substantially overenrolled” at about 950 students while Doolittle sits near 650.

“Based on all of that, the proximity to the buildings, the students, the neighborhoods…we identified what was ultimately called scenario B2,” Solon said, explaining that the plan aims to align enrollment with school capacity and state guidelines while limiting the need for repeated boundary changes.

The board also approved a legacy priority waiver intended to give redistricted Chapman families first opportunity to return to Barnum if they choose. Solon described the waiver process as twofold: an initial window for Chapman and Moss Farms families and a second layer for other waived students. He said the administration would begin the waiver process around Jan. 5, seek to close the initial window by Jan. 19 and notify families around Jan. 23.

Solon told the board survey responses informed the recommendation: the administration reported a roughly 73% response rate among affected Chapman-to-Highland and Moss Farms families combined, and that about 72% of Chapman families seeking waivers indicated interest in Barnum.

Public speakers at the meeting urged different responses. Jared Pincus, a Cheshire resident and parent, thanked the board for the data but asked the district to consider using funds proposed for limited transportation support more broadly. “You could get two new teachers, five paraeducators…so just asking you to consider putting it towards all the students and not just that small percentage,” Pincus said, calling attention to what he described as limited reach of the priority waiver and transportation proposal.

Another public commenter, Mike Oleson, criticized the board’s communications during the redistricting process and said he filed a complaint with the State Board of Education. “This board should be ashamed of itself,” Oleson said, accusing members of misleading families and saying he had sent information to town leaders about a possible recall.

Board members who supported B2 said the decision balanced short-term disruption with long-term capacity and fiscal realities. Board member White, who moved the attendance-zone motion, apologized for earlier comments that may have created community expectations and said B2 was the best option to avoid ad hoc instructional spaces and high long-term enrollment pressures. “I believe that I can relate to the parents who are facing redistricting,” White said during discussion.

Several board members underscored fiscal priorities that shaped their votes. Member Fitzgerald said the district’s budget did not allow funding additional busing for waiver recipients and preferred focusing resources on staffing, programming and supports that benefit all students. The chair said the district will need five additional classroom teachers and about 2.5 specialist positions to sustain class-size averages under the new boundaries; those needs are expected to appear in the superintendent’s January budget proposal.

Both motions were approved unanimously. The first motion adopted attendance zones as defined in scenario B2 for implementation beginning with the 2026–27 school year. The second directed the superintendent to execute the priority legacy waiver program for 2026–27, with board members asking administration to revisit waiver length and program details once survey data are finalized.

The board asked the administration to monitor operational issues that could arise from waivers, including drop-off and pick-up traffic patterns and parent drop-off logistics at new buildings. Solon said the district is already reviewing parent drop-off designs for the new schools and will seek mitigation strategies where needed.

The meeting closed after the board took the two votes and adjourned.