Quail Run Letter

Below is a letter from a resident of Quail Run that very clearly advocates our shared position to remain at Godwin, while also offering thoughtful observations and feedback regarding the draft maps...


Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are residents of Quail Run, a subdivision along the Pemberton Corridor between Three Chopt and Quioccasin (census tract 06207). Quail Run, as well as the other subdivisions along this corridor, have been in the Godwin high school district for over 25 years – since the day it opened its doors. We are saddened and disappointed that the proposed redistricting options have moved us out of the Godwin district into Freeman (Options A and D) or Tucker (Option C).

Option A only marginally changes the student populations at Freeman and Godwin. To make such a devastating change for a marginal result just doesn’t make sense. Also, Option A still leaves an overcrowding problem in the Highland Springs and Henrico HS areas. In looking at the map, it appears that some of this could be alleviated by moving Tucker’s Northeast boundary up (tracts 11107 and 11114) and letting Freeman keep its Monument Avenue students (Tracts 44006, 44007, 04003, 04002, 04001, 45301, 45302). This would also make it unnecessary to redraw my boundary simply to beef up Freeman’s population. This option seems to ignore current overcrowding problems in other districts while creating new problems for those of us being cut from a school district that we know and love and have been a part of for more than 25 years.

We do not support Option C which splits the Pemberton Corridor in half, allowing some of the subdivisions to stay in the Godwin area, while others, including our own, are redistricted to Tucker. First, this is an unnatural boundary which splits a tight community in half. Second, it makes a difficult transition for our children who will most likely attend Byrd Middle School. Most of Byrd’s population will go off to Godwin or Freeman except for the scant few of our Pemberton Corridor children who will be forced to go off to Tucker. Lastly, Tucker High School is in the Three Chopt District, and our voting district is Tuckahoe. This leaves us with no representation and no voice. That is truly UNFAIR!!

We also do not support Option D. Again, the marginal difference in student population does not justify uprooting our longstanding membership in the Godwin community. It also again seems to ignore true overcrowding issues at Deep Run which could be alleviated by leaving some of Tucker’s existing North Boundaries (tracts 40602, 40610). Also, it makes no sense in moving a big Freeman area to Tucker (Tracts 44006, 44007, 04003, 04002, 04001, 45301, 45302) and then force us to move to Freeman. This Option D does not respect current boundaries and creates more disturbance and problems than it solves.

None of these options shows the dire need to redistrict our small group of subdivisions, but ALL of these options uproot a longstanding Godwin community, potentially split close knit relations, and rob us of a nationally recognized school and education that many of us consciously chose when we purchased our homes. We have been a part of Godwin since its doors opened over 25 years ago. Godwin is not just a school to us, it is a tradition and we want to remain a part of it. Please rethink your decision to redistrict the Pemberton Corridor and redraw your maps to put us back in the Godwin School District.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Erika and John Almstead
Quail Run residents (Census tract 06207)