MISD Board President Glenn Addison released an open letter “to the citizens of Magnolia” Dec. 16 addressing resident’s concerns and “to set the record straight.”

“We have a simple problem to solve,” he wrote. “Unless we make this boundary change we will soon have too many students attending Ellisor Elementary School.”

Addison went on to say that the main reason is the number of homes being constructed in the May Valley area.

“As a board that is absolutely committed to being good stewards of tax money, we will NOT spend money that does not need to be spent just so one subdivision or community can get special treatment,” Addison wrote.

“The bottom line is that we have available space at Smith Elementary School, a TEA ‘recognized’ campus, and we will utilize those seats to deal with this problem.”

Smith Elementary, located at 28747 Hardin Store Road, about four miles southwest of Ellisor, is currently slightly less than two thirds full in attendance capacity.

The plans have drawn response from parents living in the May Valley area, who worry that their market home values may increase.

“Property values could go down and their argument is that people won’t want to buy in May Valley if it’s zoned to what they feel is an inferior school,” said Phillip Givens, President of the Sterling Ridge Village Association (SRVA).

According to 2009 Texas Education Agency statistics, Ellisor Elementary is rated “Exemplary” while Smith Elementary is rated “Recognized.”

But the biggest concern residents have voiced, according to Givens, is not being a part of the process.

“Their main concern is the lack of inclusion of them in the process, in addition to the timing of it,” Givens said. “A letter was sent out, not to everyone and then it was during the holiday season when everyone is busy.”

Givens said the SRVA approved a resolution that would postpone the rezoning for one year, so parents would get a chance to be a part of the process.

“That’s really what the issue is. We’re not saying don’t do it, we’re saying wait one year,” Givens said.

Since the start of the school year, MISD officials have been monitoring enrollment at Ellisor Elementary, located at 33040 Egypt Lane.“It wasn’t until that point that we realized the growth had been more than expected,” said Assistant Superintendent Clydene Freeman.

Freeman said administrators discussed “several things” both formally and informally; but redrawing attendance boundaries was the only formal proposal made to the Board.

The School Board held an open forum at both Ellisor and Smith, providing parents with comment forms to voice their opinion and presented maps of what the re-zoning would look like.

“We had administrative teams speak with them and answer questions and they could fill out a form for comments,” said Freeman. “All of the forms went to the board for their consideration.”

Freeman said there were a “variety” of comments from parents.

“Most revolved around wanting us to wait a year or two or postpone. They’re worried about home values,” Freeman said.

The zoning changes, if passed by the Board at its next meeting in January, would begin at the start of the next school year. Freeman said current enrollment statistics show there are approximately 93 students scheduled to be moved from Ellisor to Smith. Students who are currently at Ellisor have the option to stay if they choose, with the only drawback being their parents would have to provide transportation.

“Our concern is getting our kids in the best possible situation to educate them. That’s where our concern is,” Freeman said.

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