Possible plans to redraw elementary and middle school boundaries in the Lewisville Independent School District have many parents in Flower Mound concerned.
There are currently two possible options on the table to redraw the boundaries throughout the city to better distribute students between the three middle schools in the system; as well as make minor changes to the elementary schools.
The issue stems from the current distributions that have McKamy and Shadow Ridge middle schools both operating at or above capacity while near-by Forestwood sits at 50 percent capacity..
In order to combat the problem the district charged a citizens’ group to come up with possible solutions to redraw the boundaries.
A district spokesperson said the principals in each of the elementary and middle schools picked two parents to be on the committee and create the plans.
"It's their community, it's their school communities that will be or will not be impacted," said Public Information Officer Karen Permetti. “We want to be as transparent about this as possible.”
The two options to redraw have been posted on the districts website along with a 3rd option to “do nothing.”
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However the major downside to solving the overcrowding issue is that some students would have to move to different schools; including many in Flower Mound’s most densely populated neighborhoods.
Several parents in the Wellington Neighborhood said they moved to the area specifically to be in walking distance of schools like McKamy.
“Their children are able to walk to a school or bike to a school and now they're being asked to move to where they either have to be bussed or their parents have to drive them,” said Melissa Northern, former Mayor of Flower Mound and current McKamy parent who would be affected by the re-drawings.
"It's staying at schools that you've intentionally moved to to make sure your kids go to that particular school,” added Matt Childs.
Permetti said redrawing boundaries is always an emotional issue that seldom pleases everyone.
The district is preparing to hold several community meetings so that parents can sit down with the citizens’ committee to share their thoughts and concerns.
The first is this Wednesday night at Forestwood Middle School at 6:30 p.m. with the second held Feb. 12 at McKamy; they encourage all to attend.
