Redistricting Plan Approved by Wissahickon School Board

During Monday night's meeting, members of the Wissahickon School board unanimously voted to approve the elementary redistricting plan, which will split the majority of Mattison Avenue Elementary students between Shady Grove and Lower Gwynedd Elementary.

The plan had been a source of contention and debate in recent months, with many Mattison Avenue parents claiming that their children were being handed an unfair portion of the realignment burden.

Despite their efforts to sway board members – including letters to the editor, and public discussion at meetings, Superintendent Judith Clark stated that options such as keeping the Mattison Avenue students together were not feasible, according to a report on Philly.com. Clark stated that such an effort would disrupt other priorities and would inhibit the district's room for future growth, the report states.

In addition to the Mattison Avenue students, a total of 14 students from Blue Bell Elementary and 26 students from Shady Grove will now attend school at Stony Creek.

The final vote for approval was 8 to 0, with board member Richard Stanton absent from the meeting.

With the plan finalized, board member Burunda Prince-Jones stated that she hopes everyone can work together to make a smooth transition.

"Despite what our respective concerns might have been, I believe we can coalesce around what's best for our kids," said Prince-Jones, according to the report by Philly.com.

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