To Sup. Raiff and the members of the Olentangy Attendance Boundary Committee:
We want to thank you very much for the immense undertaking you have committed to by volunteering for this redistricting effort. It is no small feat and we realize that emotions are running high through this process. We appreciate all you have done.
While Scioto Reserve North (LHS-4) was not affected by either Scenario A or B, we understand that there is a concerted effort by LHS-7 to ask the committee to reconsider this and that other areas, including LHS-4, move instead from Olentangy Liberty High School. This is an extremely disappointing perspective that is driven by emotion and not facts. We feel it is necessary to state our views, the residents of Scioto Reserve North, and our opposition to such a plan. This letter is to directly respond to the petition by LHS-7, asking that the committee not move LHS-4.
From a logistics perspective, taking a neighborhood on the Western edge of the district and busing those students to a school that is further East will increase transportation costs for the district and travel time for students. This will complicate bus routes and put a further burden on an already taxed transportation system. Scioto Reserve students would drive past Liberty High School, a school that is only 3-5 minutes away for the majority in LHS-4, to a school approximately 15 minutes away. The students from LHS-4 would have to cross 315 and 23, just as students from other neighborhoods in Powell should they move to another school; however, the commute times would be longer.
Scioto Reserve is already a split-up subdivision, with certain areas in Olentangy Local School District and others attending Buckeye Valley. If LHS-4 were to be moved, and the area South of Home Road to stay, this would further divide up our community.
Looking at numbers, LHS-4 and LHS-7 aren't far off, however, LHS-4 is below the 224 students in LHS-7, meaning that the committee would need to find a way to further decrease attendance numbers at Olentangy Liberty High Schools if LHS-4 was to move instead. Furthermore, there is a misconception and a rumor being spread that the area of Scioto Reserve North of Home Road that is in the Olentangy Local School District is continuing to grow. This simply is not true. There are very few lots left, so we want to ensure this rumor is put to rest.
We appreciate Superintendent Raiff's message that we are one Olentangy, one community and hope this will continue to be the prevailing thought when determining the final attendance boundaries.
Thank you for your time and your dedication to our schools.
Best regards,
The residents of LHS-4
