Hello. My name is Melissa Harris. I am collecting names to rezone our schools to take to the School Board. I ran for School Board in the November election and lost by a few votes. If you voted for me thank you for your support. Even though I lost, I am keeping my promise to Ward 2 residents by trying to rezone the schools. Will you help the residents of your ward by signing your name?

In Winchester City Schools the schools are not zoned by their voting zone areas (ex. Ward 2, Ward 1). The problem is that people who live in Ward 2 and live close to Virginia Avenue School (3 min drive) have to go across town to John Kerr school (30 min drive). This is only if you have your own transportation. If you don't have your own transportation you have no way to reach school doors for John Kerr other than a cab or Uber/Lyft. The bus system does not even reach the school. The closest stop to the school is CVS at the bottom of the hill on one of the busiest streets in the morning and after school hours. 

I feel that this is how it should be zoned. If you live in the North end, DMIS/DMMS and Bowling Alley areas that your child should be attending the school closest to them. For this area it would be Virginia Avenue Charlotte Dehart Elementary School. If you live on the South End of town over Boscawen Street to Jubal Early should be attending Quarles Elementary School. Those people who live on the other side of Weems Lane/Cedar Creek Grade to Papermill Road should be attending Frederick Douglas Elementary School and finally those living in Meadow Branch, close to county/city line, and the Valley Avenue/South Braddock Street, Handley High area, to Amherst, areas after Jubal Early to Weems Lane/Cedar Creek Grade and Whitacre Area should be attending John Kerr Elementary School. 

I understand that you want the schools to be multicultural, but you have to think about the community and the distance from their closest school and transportation issues. It is no longer one culture over the other in one area over the other. Cultures are now being integrated within the different communities.

And each for himself/herself says: I have personally signed this petition: I am a registered voter of the state of Virginia and Winchester City.