Families from four Dublin neighborhoods are challenging the school district's finalized redistricting plan, alleging it discriminates against a more racially and economically diverse group of students.

Representatives from Ballymead, Monahan, Llewellyn Farms and Shannon Heights filed a formal complaint against Dublin City Schools, according to Dublin Ohio Daily. The complaint targets the decision to move students in the Thomas Elementary area from the Dublin Coffman feeder pattern to Dublin Scioto.

The complaint argues the move disproportionately affects a more diverse student population. It asks the district to reopen the redistricting process and put the Southwest Thomas move on hold while the allegations are investigated. It also proposes a targeted change that would keep those students at Coffman.

Dublin City Schools completed its redistricting in June. The updated attendance boundaries cover elementary, middle and high schools and take effect for the 2027-28 school year, starting with incoming freshmen. The district has said the new boundaries were drawn using enrollment, capacity, transportation, geography, feeder patterns and projected growth, not socioeconomic balance.

The complaint is the first formal challenge since the boundaries were finalized. The redistricting had been treated as a settled matter since June.

Superintendent Jennifer Schwanke, who took over Aug. 1 after the board appointed her to replace outgoing Superintendent John Marschhausen, has already signaled the district's position. "To be transparent with our community and to provide clarity, we do not intend to open the redistricting process … My singular focus and the focus of our leadership team will be on leading this district forward," Schwanke said on July 23, when the board approved her appointment, according to NBC4.

The board selected Schwanke without conducting a public search. She has spent nearly three decades with Dublin City Schools as a teacher, coach, principal and deputy superintendent.

Dublin Ohio Daily reported it has heard the district may be investigating the complaint but said it has not independently confirmed that. The full text of the complaint has not been published, and no individual complainants have been named publicly.

No upcoming board meeting date or public comment window related to the complaint has been announced.