Valued District Boundary Committee,

We, the residents of Shady Creek subdivision, would like to express our disinterest in the redistricting of school boundaries for our neighborhood again. The #1 reason that many of us selected Shady Creek for our home was because of the close proximity to Liberty High School and its feeder schools. Neighborhood schools serve as a catalyst for so many great community benefits. We understand that the current proposed school district boundary changes delineate Shady Creek to be included in the Timberland High School zone even though Shady Creek is less than a mile from Liberty High School. Please take the time to read the case below to keep Shady Creek from being redistricted again.

Summary - Concerns about the proposed boundaries

- Exposing the same students to another school change

- Proximity to Liberty and future development of Paul Renaud

- Negative local social and community impact

- Halting growth and expansion on Hwy N

- Using new schools to promote growth

Exposing the same students to another school change

Shady Creek has already experienced a redistricting in elementary schools. These children that were redistricted, have had the opportunity to build relationships and friendships. With the current proposal, these students would have to start over again moving into junior high and high school. Beginning a new social life for elementary, and especially junior high and high school students, can be very stressful and distracting. Impacting these student’s lives should be top priority over every other criteria for drawing boundary lines.

Proximity to Liberty - Future development of Paul Renaud

Many of our neighbors have demanding positions and busy schedules. When purchasing our home the thought was such that Liberty would be close enough for both of them to ride their bikes or even WALK to school. Removing this convenience for many of the residents will impact their daily lives, not to mention the economic hardships that it can cause for a family. For this reason, it is confusing as to why Shady Creek would even be considered for a change, especially with the extension of Paul Renaud leading directly from our neighborhood to the high school.

Negative Social and Community Impact

The inter-connected subdivisions of Countryshire, Preston Woods, and Shady Creek have grown to be a very close community, with many relationships built. People that work, play, socialize and depend on one another have a potential to solidify and create a "neighborhood" with many potential positive results. As leaders of a community, we believe this is what you are striving for. This is refreshing when considering the changes in our society today. Breaking these subdivisions and relationships up from an educational perspective would create a divide among the community that is already so emotionally close to each other. We argue that there are many other areas that could be selected in which this division would not have to be made.

Halting Growth on Highway N

Liberty has been a catalyst for growth in the Hwy N/DD/Sommers Road area. Residents flock to the Liberty boundaries in order to grow as a family and a community, while benefiting the area with extreme economic growth. Many of us have recently been through a new home builder selection process and ALL of the major builders in the area specifically promote LIBERTY as as a reason for buying a home in this area. We fear the growth would be dramatically reduced because of the redistricting. Lombardo and Payne are also concerned about a change in predicted growth due to the redistricting (specifically of Liberty High School).

Use the new schools to promote growth in Wentzville and Lake St. Louis

We mentioned previously Liberty's impact on the growth in the Hwy N/Sommers Rd area. The new high school could have that same impact on the Wentzville proper area as well, yet the lines for the new school are drawn south to cover the more rural St. Charles County areas. Why not let Timberland cover those rural areas (like it has in the past) while letting the newest school focus on the growing footprint of Wentzville proper where the population is more likely to be growing in density. New schools promote growth, why not let that growth continue?! Like our community, we hope to use this new school to improve our area!

We appreciate your honest work, and hope that you can be empathetic to our concerns as your neighbors and stakeholders. It is understood that this is not an easy decision, but we believe our concerns should be legitimate concerns to you as well.

Thank you,

Your neighbors at Shady Creek