The 5 day provision is NOT a change–that’s what’s been on the out of zone and special permission application forms this year and in past years. So far, we haven’t heard negative reports from the past from either principals or out of zone families. My speculation is that principals have been able to manage last minute enrollment projections so that they haven’t had space issues that late in the process. BUT if the short time frame has been problematic, this is exactly when we can fix it.

The biggest change in the proposed policy is the elimination of megazones so that there is no preference for out of zone students based on geography. A student from the East End would have an equal chance for Munford admission as one from the Northside and so on. Input on that change is welcome and we’ll have principal responses to inform the discussion at my next committee meeting–parents welcome too of course–on 8/28 at 11:30.

I share your concerns and will vigorously make them known to the full SB Committee and Board. For the sake of clarity, the entire City of Richmond constitutes “the district.” The various school zones and megazones are lines that are determined by the school board.