Lynbrook School Board Restores Marion-Waverly Optional Zone

On Wednesday, the Lynbrook Board of Education rescinded the resolution that eliminated the Marion Street-Waverly Park optional zone, much to the satisfaction of many outraged residents living within those district lines.

And though the district spent much of the summer conducting a demographic study of school-age children within the Lynbrook School District, it may be those not yet old enough to attend school that will determine the board's next action regarding redistricting.

"We can't get that [information]," said Superintendent Dr. Santo Barbarino. "And we tried … we tried and tried and tried. Will it be forthcoming? We are told it will be forthcoming."

After showing a four-page PowerPoint presentation listing three different redistricting options that the board looked at, many of the trustees acknowledged that none of the plans had much of an impact on helping to even out student population in the elementary schools. Some of the options, though looking sound on paper, would have likely led to the hiring of additional staff.

"My suggestion to the board is that we look at that information," Barbarino said of demographics pertaining to children ages birth to 4 years.

According to the district administration, Marion Street School has too many students, while Waverly Park School has just the opposite problem, though many parents enjoy having their children in Waverly's smaller class sizes. Until last year, parents living in the Marion Street-Waverly Park optional zone had a choice of whether to send their children to Marion Street or Waverly Park. Of note, all students residing in the Lynbrook School District are allowed to attend Waverly Park — something district officials hope will help to up the population at the school.

When the optional zone was eliminated, all students living in that zone were only allowed to attend Waverly Park. Many residents were outraged at the idea of sending their children to Waverly Park when Marion Street was right down the road from them. The board rescinded that decision at Wednesday night's school board meeting, an action immediately followed by applause from residents in attendance. At this time, no students are expected to be impacted.

Patch will continue to update this story as additional details become available.