The Issaquah School District Boundary Review Committee is studying proposals to change elementary school boundaries.  The goal is to provide for a new school in the Issaquah Highlands in 2006-07and relieve overcrowding in elementary schools on the Sammamish Plateau.  On Tuesday night, the Boundary Advisory Committee held its first public meeting - a gathering designed specifically to solicit and listen to public comments about the boundary proposals under consideration.  

A second meeting with the same purpose is scheduled for Monday, June 13 at Clark Elementary school.  (driving directions) at 7 pm.

Boundary process to date:

·  Committee began meeting May 23 to review data and study potential boundary options.  They started with two options and studied an additional six that committee   members brought forth.

·  At their meeting on June 2, they voted to move three boundary options (A,B, & D) forward for public comment on June 7.  As a result of public comment on June 2, B1    was also brought forward. 

·         The second public meeting takes place Monday, June 13 at Clark Elementary school (driving directions) at 7 pm. 

·  Discovery Elementary and Issaquah Highlands communities are each recruiting one additional representative to ensure that the committee slate is full and each school    community has the same number of parent representatives as the others                    

Boundary process ahead:

·  Committee will continue listening to comments and suggestions and will take them into consideration as they formulate a recommendation for Superintendent Janet      Barry.

To follow the progress of this committee:

·  Go to www.issaquah.wednet.edu; click on the Boundary Review box for minutes, agendas, maps, committee member info, and work timeline

To comment on the work of the committee:

·  Attend one of the meetings listed at www.issaquah.wednet.edu to speak to the committee
·  E-mail the committee through the electronic comment box at www.issaquah.wednet.edu
·  Write to the committee at Boundary Advisory Committee, Issaquah School District Administrative Center, 565 NW Holly, Issaquah, WA  98027

Boundary background information:

·  Two reasons these current boundary adjustments are necessary:

 1.   A new elementary school will open in 2006 in the Highlands Development.  Boundary changes are always necessary when a new school opens.

2.   Plateau elementary schools are overcrowded, (especially Cascade Ridge, Endeavour, Discovery), and there is available space for students at corridor elementary schools (Clark and Issaquah Valley).  Balancing enrollment eases overcrowded schools.

·  Issaquah School District has experienced some of the fastest enrollment growth in the state.  As a result, seven new schools have been built since 1991; six of them are on the plateau.  Planning for district-wide voter approval to finance the construction each of those seven schools and to locate them involved a community committee.  Drawing new boundary lines also involved community committees who studied population growth and recommended ways to balance enrollment.

·  Community committees have made boundary adjustments for the following schools built between 1991 and 2004:

1.      1991            Discovery Elementary
2.      1992            Cougar Ridge Elementary
3.      1994            Beaver Lake Middle School
4.      1996            Endeavour Elementary
5.      1997            Skyline High School
6.      2001            Cascade Ridge Elementary
7.      2004            Newcastle Elementary

·      A community committee also made boundary adjustments in 2002 to balance the enrollment between Cougar Ridge and Sunset Elementaries. Cougar Ridge was        overcrowded, and Sunset had extra space.

 

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