Review of Overcrowded Schools Continues

November 8, 2004 - The Boundary Review Task Force continues to work to review current school boundaries and look at issues of overcrowding at some schools.

The group of parents and district staff is looking for ways to balance school populations, relieve overcrowding at some schools and ensure that classrooms in all schools are used efficiently.

The task force last week presented proposed solutions to these problem areas at two community forums at Dimmitt and McKnight middle schools. The last such forum is scheduled at Nelsen Middle School on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 7 to 9 pm. Staff, parents and community members are encouraged to attend the forums to hear the proposals and offer their own proposed solutions.

After the final forum, the task force will meet again to discuss and incorporate ideas proposed by participants at the forums. The group will present their final list of boundary adjustment proposals to the School Board at the Dec. 15 board meeting. The board will review those proposals and make adjustments if deemed necessary. They will then give the recommendations to the Enrollment Review Committee who will review the proposals, make recommended changes or additions and report back to the board in the spring. The board will then decide what changes are necessary to relieve the overcrowding.

Initial boundary adjustment proposals recommended by the task force numbered about 32. Following extensive review and discussion, 16 of the proposals were accepted by the full task force. The following is a list of the adopted 'Options/Solutions' that are being presented to the community at the forums.

HAZEN HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE AREA CHALLENGES

• McKnight is overcrowded
• Highlands is overcrowded (or would be if their Honey Dew students returned)
• Hazen is approaching or at capacity
• Maplewood and Sierra Hts. are becoming overcrowded
• How do we accommodate future growth?
• Highlands is split

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

• Re-Open Honey Dew (Highlands/Sierra/Maplewood) with boundaries of Sunset/Redmond/4th Street/144th Street
• Alternative to re-opening Honey Dew (partial solution)
• Adjust Kennydale - Section west of I-405 to attend Renton High School service area (DMS/RHS)
• Adjust boundary west of Harrington Avenue and north of Sunset from Sierra Hts. to attend Kennydale (Hazen High School service area)
• Adjust Maplewood Hts. boundary - All Liberty Ridge development to attend Renton High School service area (Elementary Schools to be determined/DMS/RHS)
• Re-Open Honey Dew (Highlands/Sierra Hts./Maplewood Hts.) with boundaries of Sunset/Redmond/4th Street/144th Street, and adjust Maplewood Hts. boundary - All Liberty Ridge development to attend Renton High School service area (Highlands/DMS/RHS)

Other moves to reduce Hazen High School service area elementary schools

• Use Hillcrest as a McKnight annex
• Build additional space at McKnight Middle School
• Double Shift at McKnight
• House McKnight 6th graders at alternative site
• Implement Year Round School at McKnight
• Build additional space (wing) at Hazen High School

LINDBERGH HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE AREA CHALLENGES

Review fragmented elementary service areas:

Piece of Renton Park beyond Benson Hill
Tiffany Park divided by Renton Park and Benson Hill
Renton Park 'finger' toward Tiffany Park

Nelsen's size - space consideration? Becoming overcrowded

POSSIBLE SOLUTION

Adjust Benson Hill, Renton Park and Tiffany Park boundaries

RENTON HIGH SCHOOL SERVICE AREA CHALLENGES

• Bryn Mawr, Campbell Hill, Lakeridge and Renton H.S. are under utilized
• Downtown students go far to elementary school
• Lakeridge boundary split around Bryn Mawr
• Bryn Mawr area is split

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

• Adjust Lakeridge, Campbell Hill and Bryn Mawr boundaries to north/south corridors
• Adjust Kennydale boundary - section west of I-405 to attend Renton H.S. service area (BM/DMS/RHS)
• Return Thomson Kindergarten students to resident elementary schools

DISTRICT WIDE ISSUES

• Locate an Alternative Middle School centrally in the District
• Locate Magnet Middle School near McKnight M.S.
• Create Magnet program at Dimmit M.S.