State orders new plan to diversify Greenwich schools
Greenwich Public Schools' current plan to address the issue has been in place since 2014. But on Wednesday, the State Board of Education ordered the district to craft a new plan within the next 120 days.
More Stories
Greenwich school leaders got grilled in Hartford over racial diversity on Wednesday. The State Board of Education is giving the district four months to make two schools more racially balanced.
The impact could be felt far beyond Greenwich, as state lawmakers consider relaxing standards that have been in place for decades.
"RACIALLY IMBALANCED"
Even on a rainy day, Hamilton Avenue School has that sunny neighborhood feel that parents love. But under a 1969 state law, the school has been "racially imbalanced" for the past 25 years. That means Hamilton Avenue's minority population deviates more than 25% from the town's overall racial breakdown.
Greenwich Public Schools' current plan to address the issue has been in place since 2014. But on Wednesday, the State Board of Education ordered the district to craft a new plan within the next 120 days.
"At this point, they do not have options or strategies in place to move forward with addressing the racial imbalance," Laura Anastasio, an attorney with the state Department of Education, told board members.
According to the state Hamilton Avenue School is 29% out of racial balance. Nearby New Lebanon School is 33% off.
Four other schools are close to being imbalanced – Old Greenwich, Parkway, North Street and Julian Curtiss schools.
GREENWICH OPPOSITION
Greenwich school leaders told the board they are making gradual progress. Overall, the district is growing more diverse and new housing could help even more.
"We'll come up with a plan," said Greenwich Board of Education chair Karen Kowalski. "But I'd also ask this board to respect, in the plan that we come up with, knowing that what we're achieving in Greenwich is really amazing."
Greenwich parents are strongly opposed to redistricting. The superintendent told board members that it could be a major disruption for kids.
"I don't want 5- and 7-year-olds on the bus for an hour," said Dr. Toni Jones. "I just don't think it's appropriate."
STATEWIDE IMPACT
This fight could impact students across Connecticut. State lawmakers are considering a bill to study relaxing racial diversity quotas in schools. The Legislature's Appropriations Committee could vote on the proposal on Thursday.
"I think this legislation is outdated," Kowalski said. "We have 13 different languages that are spoken at that school. How can one say that that's not culturally diverse?"
School leaders in Fairfield are also grappling with the issue. Last month, the state Board of Education ordered a new plan to diversify McKinley Elementary.
