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.
