The eight-year-old and her mom recently moved from Francis Street to the new Creekwood Apartments, which is also in the city but in a situation best understood by those well marinated in the system, some of the apartments are in the city district and some fall in the Brownville school system.
Worried about state aid and property taxes, GB refused a bid to redraw the boundary when the project was built. Watertown officials refused to trade students and property on Floral Drive for the Creekwood property.
Map Shows Portion of Creekwood in the City but Also in GB School District
Making city school district boundaries conform to municipal boundaries would likely require state legislation, something lawmakers are unlikely to do. So this silly anomaly will continue and kids will get up in the morning with a school in sight but a long meandering bus ride awaiting them with, getting home after dark this time of year.
The operators of the housing complex are frustrated with the border issue and say its tougher to rent units on the GB side of the project because parents value the prospect of a school a couple of blocks away.
I am glad I grew up in an era of neighborhood schools. I can't imagine moving into that complex and subjecting kids to that hassle everyday.
PS: If Allyson's mom were teacher, she would be allowed in the city schools tuition free no matter where she lived.
Watertown Daily Times | Watertown school board holds the line on boundary exception request
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