Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee
The Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee has completed its work developing the foundational framework for the District’s elementary redistricting process in preparation for the opening of Bear Hill Elementary School in August 2027. Since May 2025, the Committee has focused on establishing clear parameters to guide the review and adjustment of elementary school attendance boundaries. These parameters were approved by the School Board and now serve as the foundation for the next phase of the redistricting process. With the Ad Hoc Committee’s work complete, the District is moving forward with forming a Redistricting Steering Committee to develop and recommend a redistricting plan for School Board review and community input.
Redistricting Parameters
- Meet population target ranges for each school
- Abide by all legal requirements
- Create reasonably drawn boundaries
- Avoid dividing neighborhoods
- Align with best practices for bus transportation
- Adjust Middle School Feeder Patterns:
- T/E Middle- Beaumont, Devon, Hillside
- VF Middle -Valley Forge, New Eagle, Bear Hill
- Utilize the proportional approach to redistricting
- Maintain current middle school attendance boundaries
These parameters will guide the Redistricting Steering Committee as it develops a proposed redistricting plan for consideration by the School Board.
Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee Members
- Roberta Hotinski, Chair
- Kenneth Hong
- Maryann Piccioni
- Rachel Weil
- Wendy Towle, Administrative Liaison
Meeting Dates, Agendas, and Minutes:
Meeting Summaries
Summary of February 4, 2026 Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee Meeting
The School Board Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee met on February 4 to continue planning for the upcoming elementary redistricting process. The Committee reviewed the timeline, which includes forming a Redistricting Steering Committee this spring. This new committee will work through the summer and early fall to develop a proposal, including new school enrollment maps, for School Board consideration later in 2026. The discussion also included an overview of the parameters that will guide redistricting, such as meeting enrollment targets, maintaining legal compliance, keeping neighborhoods intact, ensuring transportation efficiency, and aligning future elementary attendance areas with existing middle school feeder patterns.
A proposed structure for the Redistricting Steering Committee was presented, outlining plans to include TESD staff, an external facilitator, and parent/guardian representatives selected through an open application and random selection process. Eligibility guidelines aim to ensure participation from families who will be directly impacted in the coming years. Applications are scheduled to open in early April, with selections announced in May. The Committee emphasized the importance of broadly communicating opportunities for parent and guardian involvement.
Community members are encouraged to stay engaged as planning continues for the opening of Bear Hill Elementary School in August 2027.
Summary of January 20, 2026 Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee Meeting
The Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee met on January 20, 2026 to continue planning for the opening of Bear Hill Elementary School (BHES) in August 2027. The meeting began with a review of the redistricting timeline and guiding parameters that will shape the new attendance boundaries across all six elementary schools. This work aligns with the District’s goal of creating six enrollment areas that preserve neighborhood integrity, support efficient transportation, and ensure that all students benefit from TESD’s Elementary Blueprint for Instruction, which standardizes educational experiences across District elementary schools. Click here for the meeting agenda and presentation slides.
During the meeting, administrators outlined the redistricting timeline, which began in 2024 and will conclude with a School Board vote in late 2026 or early 2027. The Committee discussed two redistricting approaches: the parity model, which distributes students evenly among the six schools but would require changes to middle school attendance areas; and the proportional model, which bases enrollment on each school’s classroom inventory. Updated projections showed that the proportional approach more accurately reflects individual school capacities, particularly with the addition of BHES and full‑day kindergarten. Committee members expressed support for the proportional model, noting its flexibility, its alignment with building capacity, and its advantage of preserving current middle school attendance boundaries.
The Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee will meet next on February 4, 2026 to review the prior redistricting process and establish criteria for selecting the Redistricting Steering Committee members.
Questions regarding the redistricting process may be sent to redistricting@tesd.net. The District encourages community members to attend future meetings, provide feedback, and stay engaged in the redistricting process.
Summary of October 28, 2025 Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee Meeting
The Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee met on October 28, 2025 to continue its work planning for the redistricting process tied to the August 2027 opening of Bear Hill Elementary School, the District’s first new school in over 50 years. The agenda covered the redistricting timeline, legal considerations, and two proposed models: parity, which evenly distributes students across schools, and proportional, which aligns enrollment with each school’s capacity. The Committee emphasized that the District’s class-size policy will be consistently applied across all District schools, regardless of a school’s population.
Following public comment, the Committee outlined the next steps, including presenting the 2025 Demographer’s Report at the November 6th Education Committee meeting. The Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee will reconvene in December or early January to finalize redistricting parameters and begin planning for the Redistricting Steering Committee in Spring 2026. The Committee’s next meeting date will be shared on the District website and in the District e-newsletter. As always, community engagement is encouraged, and public comment remains welcome throughout the process.
Summary of May 28, 2025 Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee Meeting
On May 28, the Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee held its first meeting to begin planning for the redistricting process associated with the opening of Bear Hill Elementary School (BHES) in August 2027, marking the first new school in the District in over 50 years. This historic development necessitates a District-wide review of elementary school enrollment and attendance boundaries.
During the meeting, the Committee revisited the 2018 redistricting process, which involved Beaumont, Devon, and Hillside Elementary Schools. That effort was led by a diverse steering committee comprising Board members, administrative staff, parents, and external consultants, including a demographer and a transportation supervisor. The Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee used this successful experience as a foundation for shaping the new redistricting approach.
The Committee also outlined a high-level process for BHES redistricting. All elementary schools will be considered in the review, and a similar steering committee structure will be used to ensure broad representation and expertise. The proposed timeline begins in Summer 2025, when the District administration will gather relevant data for committee review. In Fall 2025, the Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee will develop redistricting parameters and a work plan. By Spring 2026, members of the steering committee will be selected, and their work will take place through Summer and early Fall 2026. The redistricting plan is expected to be presented to the School Board in late Fall 2026 or early 2027, followed by implementation of transition activities through Spring 2027.
Next steps include reporting the proposed process and timeline to the School Board and preparing for Fall 2025 meetings of the Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee. These meetings will focus on establishing redistricting parameters, evaluating legal and logistical considerations, and determining the steering committee's composition and responsibilities.
This process marks a significant step in shaping the future of TESD schools, and the District is committed to transparency and community involvement throughout.