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Seven Stages of School Boundary Changes
The School Board has begun the process of drawing boundaries for Liberty, Steuart Weller, and Creighton's Corner Elementary Schools. Some of the community meetings were held last week and more are coming soon.
Similar to other significant emotional events, parents go through seven stages as part of the boundary change process. Most are able to move forward quickly and arrive at the acceptance stage, but some seem to get stuck in one or more phases.
I'm speaking here from experience on both sides. My oldest daughter changed schools six times in thirteen years, so as a parent I know the pain and frustrations of changing schools. I've also been involved in approving nearly 25 boundary changes and have attended nearly a hundred community input meetings and public boundary hearings since 1999. So I have heard through public input, e-mails, letters, phone calls, and parent forums about parent concerns. If you're a veteran of the boundary process, I'm sure you'll relate to the seven stages. If you're a rookie, then consider this a quick primer:
Shock or Disbelief - When the School Board announces a proposed boundary process, some parents are shocked that their children should even be considered for the move. Others can't believe the 'draft' plans because they create as many problems as they correct. Shock is also common among parents that were "OK" in the staff's draft plans but not in the final recommendation.
Denial - Sometimes people look at the staff's draft plans and see that they're "OK" on all of them, so they they think they don't have a problem. Regardless of how close your planning district is to a school or how illogical it would be to move your neighborhood, you should let the School Board know why you should stay at School X or be moved to School Y.
Bargaining - Many neighborhoods band together to develop a plan that is good for their planning zone. This is a good idea, but it works best when the bargaining is 'win-win' for everyone. In a boundary process for Dominion High School, the School Board received hundreds of alternative plans. Alternative plans are good, but you must consider the ramifications to all parties. Its during this phase that many parents start wearing red, green, blue, yellow, or purple T-shirts and hats to demonstrate their unity. Some groups have elections for spokespersons and even recruit poet laureates to make a stronger case for their plan.
Guilt - Once the staff's recommendation is presented, some people feel guilty, and become supportive of alternative plans that would upset the balances achieved in the staff's plan.
Anger - This stage is dangerous and unhealthy. Some parents become livid that their children are being moved and say things they shouldn't say like: "This move will damage my child for life". This phase usually lasts up to the first week of school. But in some cases, it persists and can result in ulcers, persistent blogging about the percieved injustice, or running for public office.
Depression - Some parents think the relationships they've developed at the losing school are lost and that life will never be the same. I think most parents get through this phase when they see that their children are adapting to the new school and new friends.
Acceptance - Hopefully, the first week of school eases the parents depression/anger/guilt and they become involved in the new school's activities.
Bottom-line about boundary changes is to remember the School Board does them to reduce classroom crowding so as to improve your child's educational opportunities.
I haven't addressed how the affected children handle the moves, because for the most part they are used to change. They out-grow clothes and shoes and everyday is a new experience.
I'd like to hear from boundary 'war' veterans how they handled the change or if their children did experience a trauma with the move.
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