Hickman Parents Raise Their Concerns

Monday, November 1st was the first night of Columbia Public School's planned public forums to receive input on the school's redistricting options. As many Columbians know, Battle High School will open in 2013 to grades 9-11. It will have been the first high school built since Rock Bridge in the 1970's for CPS. As this happens, many people are venting out their frustrations but also trying to figure out where their son or daughter will be going to go to school. Monday's open house was at Hickman High School, a school on the north side of town, one that many feel has been overshadowed since Rock Bridge came along.

The biggest concern I got from parents at tonight's meeting was that kids at Battle will not be given the same opportunities that kids from Rock Bridge get. That's the because in plan A, nearly half of Battle's kids would qualify for free and reduced lunch in 2013 (if there was a senior class going there.) Approach B is basically the same. Approach C has 45% of Battle kids qualifying for free and reduced lunch in the same scenario. Those stats alone triggered an onslaught of questions from the crowd.

                                                      Battle High School under construction

The committee, led by Don Ludwig,  was peppered with questions about whether or not that was fair. Most of the gallery didn't think so. You compare that to Rock Bridge High School, who would have just 21% of its students qualify for free and reduced lunch in plan A, and you have nearly a 30% difference. The difference is big, but Thursday will be a very interesting night as well. Thursday, parents will be able to voice their opinions again on this matter. This time...at Rock Bridge. Everyone will be waiting to hear if free and reduced lunch is the big topic on everyone's mind there, or if it will be a transportation issue of moving kids all around town.

Folks, this is one of the hottest topics in Columbia right now, and it will continue to be until February when the board is supposed to approve one of the plans. By the way, to see where you live in Columbia and what school your child is supposed to go to under the three scenarios...click here.