September 2008 The New Hanover County, NC School Board has recently proposed three map options for a redistricting plan that will seek to achieve Economic Diversity within New Hanover County Schools. The first map (Option 4) seeks to maintain Neighborhood Schools, allowing children to attend the school closest to their home. The second two maps (Options 5 and 6) offer two variations that include busing students away from their Neighborhood Schools in an effort to achieve Economic Diversity. This petition, which will be presented at the next School Board Meeting scheduled for October 7th, 2008, seeks to demonstrate that a majority of parents and educators do not approve of redistricting the students using a busing system. Our request is that the School Board opt for Option 4 at this time and in the future, vote in favor only of options that seek to maintain Neighborhood Schools. Parents and educators over the age of 18 are invited to join this petition in support of Neighborhood Schools.