Redistricting
Overview
School redistricting is the process of redrawing elementary school boundaries to balance enrollment and class sizes at each elementary school.
At Norwin School District, student enrollment has been steadily increasing during the past ten years, which created a need for redistricting.
On January 18, 2021, the Norwin Board of Education approved a new redistricting map for the 2021-2022 school year after considering several proposals from a volunteer Redistricting Committee. To view the approved map and streets listing, please see the links in the enclosed navy blue navigation panel.
The intent of the redistricting process was to develop a scenario that will be sustainable and will work well into the future.
The Need for Redistricting
Student enrollment has been steadily increasing at Norwin School District during the past ten years. In fact, Norwin is the only school district in Westmoreland County that has experienced such steady increases in student enrollment during the past decade.
This increase demonstrates that our District is a desirable community for families to raise their children. However, the increased enrollment has caused an inequitable balance of students in each of our four K-4 schools. Some of our K-4 schools are quickly approaching their capacities for classroom and support spaces for students while others have extra spaces available.
Therefore, the District is planning for redistricting for the 2021-2022 school year.
The most recent redistricting occurred during the 2012-2013 school year with the intention that the results would last approximately five years. During the past several years, there have been many new housing plans constructed in Norwin. Also, during the next several years, the number of new housing plans will continue to increase. So if we do nothing, the enrollment of additional students at some of our schools, particularly at Hahntown Elementary, will result in very large class sizes, which could lead to possible safety concerns.
Timeline
- October 21, 2019: Board approves a contract for a demographic study. Upon completion, the District would receive ten-year projections (2020-2029) for student populations by year, grade, and level.
- November 11, 2020: First Redistricting Committee Meeting (held in-person with all participants socially distanced).
- November – December 2020: Weekly Redistricting Committee Meetings via Zoom.
- December 1, 2020: Redistricting Committee Meeting (held in-person with all participants socially distanced).
- December 7, 2020: Board Workshop Meeting. The Redistricting Committee will present recommendations for discussion and public comment.
- January 11, 2021: Board Workshop Meeting with redistricting discussion and additional public comment.
- January 18, 2021: Board Legislative Meeting with a Board vote on a redistricting model for the 2021-2022 school year.
Redistricting Committee
Engaging its stakeholders has always been a priority for Norwin School District. The District highly values input from all its stakeholders. Therefore, the District sought to create a volunteer Redistricting Committee with members of the community who would represent a broad cross-section of stakeholders.
The Redistricting Committee consists of these roles:
- Board Members (3)
- Central Administration (3)
- K-4 Building Principals (4)
- Teachers (2)
- Two Parents from each of the four K-4 elementary schools (8)
The volunteer Redistricting Committee studied and analyzed data; identified barriers and designed recommended solutions; and created draft redistricting models. Norwin School District extends its gratitude to the volunteers who served on the Redistricting Committee.