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Henrico parents rally, express discontent over redistricting plans

Posted at 11:31 PM, Dec 06, 2012
and last updated 2012-12-06 23:31:13-05

HENRICO, Va. (WTVR)--Wednesday night outside Hermitage High school, parents joined forced to oppose one of three redistricting options for Henrico County public schools.

Even before the school board could present it, what is being referred to as the "blended option" was not an option for some Gayton elementary school parents because they say it would put the school over capacity, adding 233 kids to the school’s current 448.  

They wore red t-shirts displaying "no" to the blended school option.

 "We're going to present a couple of options [at the public hearing] that we've presented to them via email," said parent, Phil Rosenberg.

The battle over school boundary lines continued inside where school board members presented the blended option, and then listened to 35 parents supporting one option over the other.

School officials said redistricting is necessary. The county is getting larger, so it's adding a new school.

The draft maps were drawn with input from a community-based redistricting committee made up of 24 parents from 12 schools involved in the study.

School board members welcomed their input.

Communications and Public Relations Director for Henrico County Schools, Andy Jenks, says the staff will work on the maps Friday, and by Monday a new option will be presented based on the feedback school board members received from parents Thursday night.