An Outside the Box Solution - Editorial

As Narberth organizes its protest to Draft 2 of the Lower Merion School District redistricting proposal, it seems we are playing a zero-sum game.  While Penn Wynne's protest solved their problem, it simply shifted the burden to our own neighborhood.  If we succeed in having our demands met by the school board, which neighborhood loses in Draft 3?  Is the final loser destined to be whomever is last to lose?

A group of Lower Merion and Narberth citizens have proposed a more creative solution: a United Lower Merion High School.  That is, educating 9th and 10th graders at Harriton High School and educating 11th and 12th graders at Lower Merion High School.  For Narberth, this allows our driving age students to remain in walking distance.  In addition, all social networks throughout the district would be maintained as there would be no dividing lines.

"A United Lower Merion High School would overcome many of the problems inherent in the schools and redistricting option rolled out recently:

• it would unite the community and allow everyone to take on the burden of redistricting - no one part of the community would feel singled out as bearing most of the burden of the redistricting or viewed as missing opportunities by going to one of the two current HS's
• all 6 schools would feed into the same high school and thus all students would have the same opportunities and potential outcomes
• a United LMHS would allow additional course offerings as more students could elect to take them and thus additional course offerings could result.

Truly this option has many merits and some potential drawbacks.  However, without review, we will never know if it is the best option."

-Subha Robinson, Gladwyne, PA

Before the decision to rebuild both high schools was made, a number of options were considered by Lower Merion School District and the Community Advisory Committee.  At the time, a single campus for the entire district was evaluated and rejected because no site existed where such a campus could be built. However, the 9/10-11/12 split campus option wasn't considered.  Considering the redistricting problems we are facing, could it be considered now?

"The Time Has Come to Unify Our Students and Our Community

With the construction of the new Harriton High School well under way and LM following suit, a new debate has arisen: How should we redistrict? The current plan will increase Harriton’s student population by 400 while decreasing LM’s population by the same amount.

As it currently stands, most middle school students have a choice as to where they go to high school. Even those who live in an area supposedly designated for Harriton can still go to LM if their parents convince the school district that LM is somehow a better fit. These exceptions are made all too often, and I certainly can’t explain why one high school in the same school district is better suited for a child’s needs than the other. Its not just parents who get these exceptions made for the students. Teachers, Counselors, Coaches, and even administrators also get involved, subjectively making it their business to tell a student or their family which high school is best for her or him. This has caused a great divide between the high schools, and an even greater divide between the students of our school district, This has been going on for years, and it will continue, even with the current redistricting plan in place.

In my opinion, there is only one solution to this problem: One community high school made up of two campuses, a 9th-10th grade campus, and an 11th-12th grade campus. Its been done before with great success across the country. In Chicago, Lincoln Way High School became the gold standard when it built a 9-10 campus back in the 1970s. Some schools closer to this area that have done this with great success are State College, PA and Washington Twp, NJ just to name a few.

I believe the benefits of this proposal far outweigh the benefits of maintaining two separate 9-12 high schools. First and foremost, it will improve morale and unite the students and faculty. I believe we’ll see Lower Merion School Spirit the likes of which haven’t been seen in fifty years. Secondly, it will give all of the district’s students the same access to the same programs: equality across the board. If one wants to argue that we have that now, then why are we telling our children that one high school is better suited for their needs than the other. Thirdly, it will allow younger students (9-10 graders) leadership opportunities they wouldn’t have at just one high school. They would have more opportunities academically, athletically (freshmen teams in all sports, and the addition of 10th grade teams), and more confidence socially. Lastly, it will allow all of the students in our school district the opportunity to go to school together, while at the same time experiencing the benefits of two brand new high schools with terrific facilities.

Harriton and Lower Merion are both blue ribbon schools. Uniting the two will only help the well-established reputation of this school district. We can give our students the best of both worlds: the intimacy of a smaller school setting, and the pride of being part of a school that stands out among its peers academically, athletically, and socially.

-Matt Barr – 6th Grade Teacher WVMS
Letter Previously Published in the Main Line Times

I'd love to hear your feedback pro or con on this issue.  Perhaps, through creative thinking, we can change our circumstances from the winner/loser situation in which we find ourselves.

Comments

[Stacy Bronte]

This solution creates more issues than it solves. Both Harrington and Lower Merion are fabulous High Schools with stellar records. What we are all fighting over is drive times. By moving kids from one campus to another after two years, you do not allow continuity within the education process. Students who are struggling will have to begin anew with a new staff and faculty who do not understand their issues. Likewise students who excel will also have to begin again. You are also moving students from one school to another at a time that they are applying to colleges. They will not have a relationship with faculty, college counselors and staff to help them through this process. There are no winners and losers in the redistricting. Really, does anyone lose when they go to any school in Lower Merion Township. If we take a step back and realize how lucky we all are to live in this township and have such great schools, perhaps we can come to a more realistic solution that this one. This solution should not be considered.

[anonymous]

Dr. McGinley has explicitly said this will not be considered. The high schools were not designed with this in time and he referred to lab space, gym space, etc. Don't waste your time proposing this.

[Maurice Dorman]

Dr. McGinley and Board members have said that this concept would warrant consideration if there was significant community momentum. It is an equitable and interesting idea and it would unite a divided community. It would send a message to our kids and families that we are all in this together and that educational excellence, not arbitrary lines should be the only consideration in where our children attend school.

The facilities can easily accommodate this model. The "1250" capacity number is for 85% capacity -- the reality is that these schools have been built for 1400-1500 students (or 1890, according to PDE). Lab space is adequate under any scenario. It should be noted that the first priority of the CAC was to explore the single-school concept because of the benefits of uniting the community, offering expanded academic and co-curricular programs and cost savings. What made them back off was fear that such a building would not "fit" given township zoning restrictions; there were also concerns that a single school would be too big -- learning environments would be too large. The one school, two-campus concept effectively addresses these concerns -- the benefits of uniting community, offering expanded student opportunities and preserving smaller learning environments are achieved in this model.

We are slowly losing our status as the top school system in the area. A school of 2,100 -- Conestoga has passed Lower Merion and Harriton in the rankings, and this trend will persist if we move towards "watering down" our schools. Fewer students at LMHS will yield reduced school spirit, reduced numbers of national merit semifinalists, diminished academic and athletic teams, performance ensembles, etc. and quite possibly fewer academic and co-curricular opportunities (programs would be cut that are undersubscribed). The things that make Lower Merion HS so attractive and so "great" will begin to erode when 300-400 students are ripped from its ranks.

The CAC never ruled out the LMHS United concept because they were never given a chance to consider it. They also were specifically tasked to not consider redistricting; in speaking with a number of people who served on that committee, the would have decided differently if they knew then what they have learned now about the impact of redistricting. I think our community has the right and responsibility to take a fresh look at this process and the use of our new facilities. The LMHS United concept should at least be vetted by the Board and administration.

Maurice Dorman
Ardmore