To the Editor:
We are a group of 13 out of 23 affected families at Bear Tavern, who live in the neighborhood in the large circle at the top of the map labeled “Bear Tavern to Hopewell” described in your article from April 22, 2026. We are writing to express our concern about the district’s decision to redistrict our neighborhood. Many of us have been active members of the Bear Tavern community for years, volunteering our time, our efforts, and our resources to build a strong school community for our kids. Being told that they are being uprooted without any input from their families or the broader school community has been incredibly disruptive to our children’s sense of community, belonging, stability, familiarity, and mental health and well-being. It has also adversely impacted many of our children’s friends, who are equally devastated at losing their friends.
Many, if not all, of us have voted in favor of the referendum in order to improve Bear Tavern and welcome new families, without the expectation that we would be displaced in order to do so. In fact, seeing that there are only 34 BT students being moved (and fewer after exceptions are granted) and then being replaced by 22 students from other schools makes it very difficult for us to support the district’s decision when there isn’t any discernible impact on balancing enrollment. It also implies that the effort may be driven by other factors such as bus efficiency.
We request that the district reconsider the redistricting plans that were unilaterally decided without the school communities. We are willing to discuss possible compromises, alternate plans, or options that may welcome new families without displacing established Bear Tavern families.
We are asking members of the community who support our position to please sign our petition: https://form.jotform.com/261112619366152
Signed,
A Group of Bear Tavern Families Affected by Redistricting
