54 Orchard Farm students could soon attend Oaklawn School

At January’s meeting, the School Committee approved a resolution that will redistrict certain streets, sending students to Oaklawn Elementary School instead of Orchard Farms. 

The 18 streets affected by this move include Apple Blossom Lane, Apple Hill Drive, Azalea Court, Azalea Drive, Blueberry Lane, Conley Avenue, High Meadow Court, Hines Farm Road, Honeysuckle Drive, Lang Court, Lantern Lane, Mitchell Circle, Mollie Drive, Ridgevale Court, Spring Meadow Court, Sweet Fern Drive, Tricia Circle and Wilbur Avenue. 

According to Assistant Superintendent, Norma Cole, no current Orchard Farms students will be moved, unless there is parental request.

This is for new kindergarten registration students and anyone who moves into the district as of February 1, 2018.

If a family currently has a student enrolled at Orchard Farms and a younger sibling will eventually be going to school, that younger sibling will be allowed to attend Orchard Farms as well.

“However, once the older sibling leaves Orchard Farms, the younger one will be moved to Oaklawn. A permit will be required to keep that student at Orchard Farms, and the family will have to provide transportation,” Cole said.

Cole stated that no new staffing is required, no extra bussing is needed and no new bus routes will be created.

Currently, 54 students at Orchard Farms would go to Oaklawn.

“We don’t want to disrupt anybody’s lives. We are going at this slow,” said Cole.