IMPORT&~T

NOTICE FROM THE VENABLE PTO

Please attend the June 19 School Board Meeting at 7:00PM at CHS. The School Board
is attempting to rush through a poorly conceived, piecemeal redistricting proposal
which will immediately lead to further overcrowding at Venable this fall.
Ifpassed, this proposal will move stud,ents from Greenbrier School, a much newer, larger
facility with small student~teacher ratios and more federal funding, to Venable which
already has the highest student-teacher ratios in the district and receives no federal
funding. Furthermore, we have no available classroom space. Music classes are already
being held on the stage, and the guidance counselor now operates out of the custodial
closet! Folks - they are suggesting we turn the teacher's lounge into a classroom if

necessary, and they are not kidding!!!
Not only will there be an immediate negative eiIect on Venable students, many o[\.vhom
are already in large classes, but also on the Greenbrier students involved who will lose
services they presently have that do not exist at Venable. Moreover, these students and
their families have not yet been consulted on the proposal which, ifpassed, would take
effect in September.

The Charlottesville City School Board has traditionally focused only on issues tbat
yield a positive and measurable impact on the budget (i.e., ways to spend the
taxpayer's money more responsibly or effectively) and/or a positive impact on the
quality of instruction ... with an explicit goal of improving opportunities for each
student. THIS PROPOSAL MEETS NEITHER OF THESE CRITERIA.
The board promised to thoroughly review and discuss the issue of redistricting during this
past school year and failed to do so.

We need to tell the board:
1. Venable is at capacity NOW.
2. Redistricting that results in overcrowding is NOT acceptable.
3. When redistricting is done properly, carefully and fairly, taking into consideration the
individual situations and needs of all tht~ students and schools il1volved, Venable families
will embrace any required changes. We will NOT accept redistricting when it is done, as
in this situation, sloppily and huniedly and in a way which negativeiy impacts the quality
of education for all students involved.

THE VENABLE PTa URGES THE BO.A.RD TO TAKE THE NEXT YEAR TO
STlJ'DY THIS ISSUE.
If you cannot come to the meeting, please contact the School Board or the City Cowlcil.
E-mailscanbesenttoboardmembers.LindaBowen(bowenl@ao1.com) or lulie
Gronlund (julie@ firstva.com).