The Redistricting Advisory Committee began meeting Jan. 8. Members include Ali Gant, Beth Penney, Kate Clarke, Kathy DePhillpo, Debbie Currie, Angela Emery, James Frederick, Sue Drown-Trout, Rebecca McHugh, Marie Cross, Tap Fitzgerald, Matt Green, Jennifer Kirk, Elizabeth Holland, Elizabeth Wexler, Rick Carter, Mike Eastman, Margaret Hawkins, Diane Lang, Lue Bagley and Steve Bailey.

The adminstrative team includes Suzanne Godin, Lue Bagley, Steve Bailey, Colleen Fleming, Margaret Hawkins, Mary Heal, Bonnie Hicks, Kathy Germani, Diane Lang, Megan Welter, Ron Deegan, Sheila Arey-Godin and Stephanie Johnson.

Guiding principals of the Redistricting Advisory Committee:

• Neighborhoods (as defined by transportation) should not be divided.

• Provide the option to remain at current school for students in Grades 4 and 7.

• Waiver process should remain for extenuating circumstances.

• Recommendation not to create a phased plan.

• While an overriding goal is to educate ELL students in home school district, need to balance programmatic needs.

• Try to achieve socio-economic balance across city.

• Students designated as walkers within close proximity to one school shouldn’t be bused to another school.

• Same elementary – same middle school.

The redistricting plan is included as part of the 2008-2009 school budget. The budget is scheduled to be adopted at a School Board meeting on Monday at 7 p.m., in City Council Chambers. The City Council will hold a public hearing Wednesday, April 2, at 7 p.m. A city-wide budget referendum may be held in mid-April.

Source: South Portland School Department Web site, www.spsd.org