Hopewell Valley Regional School District
In preparation for elementary redistricting, the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education will hear updated demographic figures at its Oct. 15 meeting, a district spokesman said Monday.
The new study was commissioned in response to community inquiries about where the growth is occurring in the district. This study also will incorporate the 2001-2002 enrollment figures that showed an overall increase of 136 students on opening day.
The redistricting committee will reconvene in late October to review the updated figures and narrow the remaining options down to one recommendation. Hopewell Valley School Superintendent Dr. Robert Sopko will make a final recommendation to the board at its Nov. 19 meeting.
According to Dr. Sopko, enrollment figures to date show that Bear Tavern has 725 students, Hopewell Elementary has 717 and Toll Gate Grammar School has 410 students.
At Toll Gate, this enrollment increase has forced the district to use a substandard trailer for art classes and has forced ancillary programs across the street into St. Matthew’s Church.
He added that the redistricting would require more than moving the children who live in the Brandon Farms development into the new elementary school. The realignment will require relocating students whose neighborhoods are in close proximity to the new school.
"Regardless of the final decision, there will be an emotional impact on the students," Dr. Sopko said. "But our staff will be ready to help students adjust. We are preparing a transition plan for students and parents and hope this plan will help alleviate any anxiety about moving to a different school."
In addition to a transition plan involving students and parents, a large number of staff will be relocated to the new elementary school. Last spring, the district started a process for identifying staff members and preparing them for this transition. Final decisions involving staff will be completed in November.
The redistricting process began last spring when a committee of 17 community members, three school board members and two district staff members began to discuss realignment options. This committee established specific criteria that needed to be met when realigning a sending area. Committee members also reviewed data from a software program that analyzed populations, bus routes, neighborhoods and boundaries. The district held meetings in the spring to discuss the various options.
Both board meetings will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Administration Building, 425 S. Main St., Pennington.

