Once again the Great Neck Public Schools are facing a possible redistricting. For the second meeting in a row the Board of Education featured discussion on enrollment patterns and the imbalance of population between South High and North High, with the South population growing and the North population growing at a much slower pace.

At the Jan. 7 board meeting, Board Vice President Fran Langsner (officiating for President Barbara Berkowitz, who was ill) explained that a letter from the UPTC presidents had prompted the discussion at the last meeting. Ms. Langsner said that the concerns in the letter were focused on South High, but she also emphasized that the enrollment issue has not had a negative impact on the South schools.

Ms. Langsner went on to state that the entire subject is "emotionally charged," that this happens whenever the topic of enrollment zones (where children in the district attend school) is addressed. "Tonight we begin the discussion," she said.

And Ms. Langsner also noted that the district has submitted plans to the State Education Department for some modifications at South High. The request, which Superintendent of Schools Ronald Friedman later said would most likely be granted, would call for reconfigurations within the building to allow for more science labs.

Dr. Friedman spoke next, stating that "enrollment is the issue." He said that the goal is to "try to reduce the number at South High." South High is now at about 1300 students. Dr. Friedman indicated that they wanted to find a solution that would be the easiest one.

Dr. Friedman went on to offer some enrollment history, reporting that in the 1980s North High had the high enrollment, with about 1300 students, but that began to decrease in the early 1980s, with today the enrollment at about 957. South High had about 1000 to 1100 students in the early 2000s and is now up to 1300.

Dr. Friedman also spoke of the situation of split zones at both the Saddle Rock Elementary School and the E.M. Baker Elementary School. Many parents raised the issue, particularly at Saddle Rock, that most of the students go South, and that can be a problem for the few who do go North.

Dr. Friedman then discussed optional zones, one possibility. He has been discussing the issue with parents and staff and one idea could be to take students in grades five through 11 and offer options. Also, the district could move the current north/south boundary closer to North, which would basically include Great Neck Estates and Kensington. Currently there are 77 students in that area.

Dr. Friedman said that there has also been some discussion regarding allowing new students in the area close to the north/south boundary to go north. Board Trustee Donald Ashkenase added to the discussion, stating that he believes many people are moving to Great Neck as their children reach high school age, to take advantage of the Great Neck Public Schools. Thirty-five students currently would have been involved in such a move.

In general, Dr. Friedman said that they are looking to shift about 70 students.

Yet another option, according to Dr. Friedman, would be a "hard redistricting," where the school district would redraw the boundaries and there would be no options.

Dr. Friedman made it clear that he and the board do want to continue talks and hear from the public. He did say there is some concern that they do not want radical changes, yet they do not want to do too little and then have to revisit the issue in a few years with a more rigid plan.

Next several parents spoke, many asking the district not to provide options that would make them have to choose. Many preferred the board making the decision and coming out with a "hard redistricting."

Some parents broached the issue of splitting families, and board members assured they would not do that. Yet, some parents still felt that this could be a problem --- while a younger child might choose to attend the same school as an older sibling, this might also serve to take that younger child to a different school than the ones his or her friends will attend.

Again, several Saddle Rock parents spoke of the problem of the uneven split at that elementary school, with most fifth-grade graduates going South each year.

And almost every parent who spoke asked that the board make a decision and implement a plan "sooner rather than later."

The commute issue also arose, briefly. One parent stated the busing/fuel savings involved, as well as long rides for children cut, if Great Neck Estates (and others living close to the North schools) went to North Middle and North High instead of to the South schools. And if there are optional areas, one parent said that it would increase the number of buses, as many areas would have to serve students going north and south.

Ms. Langsner wound up the discussion reiterating that no children would be forced to move from a school they already attend. And Mr. Ashkenase said that they would "not rush to judgment." He said that, in the long run, it might be best to have the issue "fully vetted" in public.

Ms. Langsner acknowledged that this issue "is not easy," and she reinforced that "it won't be resolved tomorrow."

Ending the discussion, Fran Langsner stated that the school board and staff would "be working in the best interest as possible for the district."