The Great Neck Public Schools are set to consider a plan to offer immediate relief for the over-crowding at South High School, without any "hard redistricting." At the Feb. 11 Board of Education meeting, following careful studies and listening to public input, Superintendent of Schools Ronald Friedman recommended that, for Fall 2008, the board consider offering an option. Dr. Friedman recommends that all students currently in grades five through 11, who live in the south zones of the E.M. Baker and the Saddle Rock Elementary Schools, be given the option to go to North Middle School and to North High School in the fall.

If this plan is adopted, for those students who do opt for North, Dr. Friedman assured that, if there is a change of plans for the following school year, those who opted for North may remain at North. Additionally, any younger siblings will also, in the future, have the option to go North with their older sisters and brothers.

For any students now zoned South, who opt for a North School, transportation will be provided if the distance is beyond the walking limit. This will also continue for students and siblings choosing North, even if zones change at a future date.

All students considering a change from South to North schools will be offered special open house and orientation meetings.

This first part of the plan would bring immediate relief to South High, as well as be an indicator of the success, or non-success, of an option, Dr. Friedman explained. He also said that the district was going ahead with modification plans for South High, which would also bring some relief.

As for the future, for fall 2009 and beyond, Dr. Friedman recommended that the school district hire a demographer to study the issue, to look at demographics, to study space at the schools, to look at all factors, including geographical, social and political factors.

If the board adopts his plan, Dr. Friedman said that the district would put out an RFP (request for proposal) for a professional demographer, with the hope of bringing that proposal to the board for analysis and public discussion by early next winter. The goal would be to have a long-term plan in place for September 2009.

As he concluded his recommendations, Dr. Friedman received a resounding round of applause from the large audience. Subsequently, Board President Barbara Berkowitz announced that a special meeting would be held on Monday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m., at North High, for a full public discussion of the issue. Many residents then left, presumably abandoning plans to speak, as they were satisfied with Dr. Friedman's recommendations.

Opening the enrollment pattern issue at the Feb. 11 meeting, Ms. Berkowitz offered a brief chronology of the issue, noting that the last time the high schools were redistricted was in 1985, when an over-crowded North High needed relief and some students were redistricted (mandated) to go South. Now the numbers are pretty much reversed and South High needs immediate relief.

Ms. Berkowitz stated that the issue has been studied over the years and that here has "never been a lessening of student services or diminishing school success." She stated: "We have two equal secondary schools."

She also reported that the district is going ahead with reviewing plans for South High, including mandated ADA compliance plans. And the district is currently involved in many discussions relating to the overcrowding issue.

Recognizing that redistricting is "an emotionally charged issue," Ms. Berkowitz said she hoped that the forthcoming solutions would be "the least difficult" and bring "relief as the immediate goal."

Then Dr. Friedman presented his recommendations, with great response. Dr. Friedman said that he was looking to "strike an appropriate balance." He noted that "we have room at North, not at South." And he also noted that each year the district receives requests for a student to change schools; 75 to 80 percent of such requests are for a student to change from South to North.

Dr. Friedman also explained that the redistricting years ago actually made the "South line geographically high." And he said that he would not do a "hard redistricting" now, "not without time and study."

Echoing Ms. Berkowitz's words, Dr. Friedman spoke of "two excellent schools ... with different tones and cultures ... but no one will be short-changed."

Several times during the discussions, the issue arose concerning non-resident children attending the Great Neck Public Schools. Each time Dr. Friedman offered firm assurance that an increased staff is consistently dealing with this issue and that students who do not live in the district are discovered and must leave. Ms. Berkowitz stated that any such suspicions can be anonymously reported to the administration, and she urged anyone with any information to contact the registrar at the Phipps Administration Building.

As open discussion began, Board Vice President Fran Langsner noted that the proposal took into consideration the words of North High Principal Bernard Kaplan, who, at the last meeting, urged the board not to separate "the secondary school experience," and to include the middle schools as well as the high schools in any redistricting plans.

Ms. Berkowitz reminded the audience that "sometimes we have to thin about compromise ... we want the best for our children and we listen to everyone." She termed Dr. Friedman's plan "a win-win for everybody."

Board Trustee Donald Åshkenase noted how families move to Great Neck, just for the public schools. He called the proposal a "sound plan."

Trustee Lawrence Gross noted that the superintendent and his staff "heard the concerns and questions ...and tried to mitigate them." He promised to "continue the level of education and meet the needs of the children."

Trustee Susan Miner-Healy thanked the community for allowing the superintendent and the board "the time and space" to make a decision that is not at all easy.

During the discussion, several students spoke, many questioned why a parent would be so concerned over one school versus another. One young lady received praise for being "brave enough" to broach the cultural differences level. She stated that the South schools have a lot of Asian students, while the North schools have a lot of Persian students. She suggested that possibly this is the reason why some prefer one school over another.

Dr. Friedman then stated that there is " a significant increase in the Asian population at the north end, especially in the lower grades."

And Ms. Langsner stated that "It is a privilege to go to either school," as both are, nationally, an envy to many other districts. Ms. Berkowitz added that, in the district's very diverse schools, "all the students get along."

Mr. Kaplan spoke, stating that "Both schools are excellent in everyway," Referring to a recent national magazine report (US News and World Report), he explained that the reason North High did not make the list that South High made, was due to the fact that North has an ACE program that addresses special needs. Some of the children, he explained, come from the south end of town. "We have to be careful, as adults, to send the right message out our kids, that all are welcome."

The board also addressed the diversity issue again, with Ms. Berkowitz stating that the schools are "great because we embrace everybody ... we like to see that we teach our students to be friendly to everybody." Mr. Ashkenase stated that "We have diversity here tonight and in our schools ... that is the greatness of America."

As the discussion went on, some parents did speak against any possible future "hard redistricting." Some also spoke against redistricting students out of South, stating "We want to keep our diversity at South."

During the past two meetings, a few parents also addressed any differences in curricular and extra-curricular classes and activities between the two high schools. Each time they were assured that it is the student population, and the teachers, who suggest courses and activities. Dr. Friedman explained that each building determines its own needs. If a particular course or club is requested, a course is added or an advisor is found and a new club begins.

Again and again, during each discussion, parents and students complained of the serious over-crowding at South High.

"The most important consideration is our children," Ms. Berkowitz reminded everyone, as she once again announced the Feb. 25 special meeting.