Marsh Oaks - Between the Lines

Since they changed their statements at the Oct 6 meeting, this page is largely irrelevant.

We will note that they took issue with the 19 kids.  When we take information directly from the NHC website and they have a problem with the data, take it up with NHC.  As we receive more accurate information, we will move it to the website.

In regards to the petition, the Marsh Oaks people on both sides need to have a big community event and get past it.  There were some Marsh Oaks tears at the Oct 6 meeting, but there were also a lot of Marsh Oaks Eaton parent tears in the days leading up to the Oct 6 meeting.

What about Codington?

Both at the meeting and in their paperwork, the Marsh Oaks special interest group barely mentions Codington at all.  Why is that?

We know the reason.  They could care less about Codington, whether it stays year-round or turns traditional.  However, if they attack only Eaton, then their “year-round” arguments are completely hypocritical.  They have to include Codington in their remarks or they can’t attack using their year-round school argument.

Without the year-round school argument, they have no other way to attack Eaton.  So, they have formed this “get rid of year-round schools” argument as a smoke screen for what they really want, which is to appropriate the Eaton building for themselves.

Does this remind you of any political issues at the national level?

We tried to get in to Eaton, but failed.

At the Sept 23 meeting, many of the Marsh Oaks special interest group stated that they tried to get their kids into Eaton, but were unsuccessful in the lottery.

REALLY?  Why on earth did they try to do that then, when now they want to get rid of the year-round program?  Was it a better program then, but now its not?  According to their own stats, it is 1 mile from Bayshore/Market to Ogden and 1.7 miles from Bayshore/Market to Eaton.  Why travel a longer distance if Eaton is not a better school option?

We know the reason.

And now in response, they want to take the Eaton option away from anyone.  The old “since I can’t have it, no one should have it” response that, while expected from the students of elementary schools, is ridiculous coming from the parents of elementary school children.

Increase Children Impacted

According to the New Hanover County redistricting plan, the number of students to be impacted varies from 1800 for Option 4 to nearly 3900 for Option 5.

The number of students at Eaton and Codington is over 500 each.  They are selfishly proposing to impact over 1000 MORE CHILDREN at these two schools for no reason.

And how many kids are involved in the Marsh Oaks redistricting?  According to the New Hanover County website, the total number is 19.

Ogden Elementary School Children Impacted by Options 4, 5, and 6 of New Hanover Redistricting Plan

Sure, let’s disrupt 1000 kids for the sake of those 19.  And while we are it, let’s cheer for those 19 senior executives at ENRON that hurt thousands of employees and investors so they could increase their stock options.  Hey, they got their way, why shouldn’t the Marsh Oaks special interest group? (Yes, that is sarcasm…)

Misleading Petition?

Here is the petition that was sent around originally to Marsh Oaks residents:

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Petition Opposing the Proposed Redistricting of

New Hanover County Schools

We, the undersigned, do NOT support the New Hanover County Board of Education’s current recommendations for redistricting, as drawn in maps 4, 5, and 6. We strongly contest these maps as they Do Not meet the guideline of “proximity of students to school,” as mandated by the board itself as a reason for redistricting. This is particularly evident with the Marsh Oaks subdivision, since there are three elementary schools closer than the Murrayville option provided by these maps. Moreover, this further invalidates Strategic Aim #5 (found on NHCS website) which states, “Using resources effectively and efficiently,” by negatively impacting the transportation budget, due to the continuing increases in gas prices and the slowing economy. We respectfully request the members of the NHC School Board allow the Marsh Oaks community to remain at Ogden Elementary, our “Neighborhood School”.

Name Address Email

1. __________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________

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Most Eaton parents support the content of their petition, as shown above.  However, many Eaton parents living in Marsh Oaks that signed the petition to help the Ogden parents are NOW concerned that the Marsh Oaks special interest group is using their names on a petition for neighborhood schools to represent a different petition calling for converting Eaton.  They are completely AGAINST traditionalizing Eaton, and feel they may have been duped by the Marsh Oaks special interest group.