The School Board's plan to move to neighborhood schools is a good one. So why wait? A March 4 Chronicle story said the board wanted to "give parents a year to adjust to the change" and won't fully implement the plan 'til 2009. Interesting they're concerned more about parents than kids. What about the kids who can't get into their nearest school now - where their neighborhood playmates attend? Or the ones who are split up from their siblings now?

The same story quoted a mother saying "give us a year to decide what's best for our family." What will that do? Should we all wait while you move? One father said their family may indeed move so their kids can go to the same school (because younger siblings won't be grandfathered in). Well, in reality you can have your kids go to the same (neighborhood) school, just not the one you think is better.

The board should not have compromised by waiting another year. For the 2008 "transitional year" children living within a half-mile of the school have a higher priority than younger siblings of attendees. That just breaks up current families - something the board is counting on parents not being willing to do.