High School Lines Perpetuate Disparity ; Redistricting Should Halt `Impoverishment' of Hickman.

Summary

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Columbia Public Schools' previous high school redistricting process was a failure of fairness and equity. Our outward goals as a community were to represent the demographics of the community equally at both schools, yet the opposite occurred. Some affluent neighborhoods in the Hickman attendance area were changed to the Rock Bridge area under the pretext of equalizing enrollment. Conversely, areas that could have been switched from Rock Bridge to Hickman to diversify our socioeconomic population were not switched. Veteran teachers at Hickman High understand the negative impact of the last redistricting and speak of the "impoverishment" of Hickman. I have heard students bluntly say Rock Bridge is for rich kids and Hickman is for the others. Children further notice this in the disparity of the athletic facilities.

Examining areas of town, including my own affluent neighborhood, which is close to the MKT Trail and Stadium Boulevard, raises a red flag of concern. I am a brisk walk away from Hickman, but my children would attend Rock Bridge. Because of proximity, areas south of Broadway and north of Stadium should have been moved or remained in the Hickman attendance area. Sections like the Old Southwest should be in the Hickman area.

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Extract

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High School Lines Perpetuate Disparity ; Redistricting Should Halt `Impoverishment' of Hickman.

Even areas around West Boulevard, north of Stadium, are in the Rock Bridge area. During dinner wit...

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