Evergreen Proposes New Elementary Boundaries

By HOWARD BUCK

Evergreen Public Schools is about to pull off the improbable: redraw enrollment boundaries for several elementary schools, without a hint of push back.

An ad hoc committee took on the task of making room for a new school under construction at Northeast Four Seasons Lane, near 28th Street. The district’s 21st elementary school, as yet unnamed, will open this September.

The panel’s verdict: a nip-and-tuck of current boundaries for six other schools.

Proposed new borders for Sunset, Orchards, Image, Burton, Fircrest and Hearthwood schools were recommended to the Evergreen school board Tuesday night.

The public gets a final chance to sound off when the board weighs final adoption of the revisions Jan. 22.

Very few school parents have raised questions, officials said. When assured of new busing plans for their children, their concerns have melted, they added.

“We’re getting better at this,” said Marcia Fromhold, district consultant who again led the border effort. Affected households were twice mailed letters to keep them in the loop, she said.

Maps of current and proposed boundaries are posted on the Evergreen Web site: www.evergreenps.org.

They also may be found at the affected schools and at the district office, 13501 N.E. 28th St. There’s a telephone hot line, at 360-604-4060, and patrons may send input to: communityrelations@egreen.wednet.edu.

The district said about 800 pupils would be displaced by the changes to current boundaries. The upside is student counts at five schools will drop sharply and should allow removal of several portable classrooms.

Border anomalies remain for some Evergreen schools on the district’s east side. Leaders chose to hold off on further changes, because they hope to add one or more new schools there if voters approve a construction bond measure, expected this year.

A separate ad hoc committee soon will tackle choosing a school name for the Four Seasons campus. That decision is due by this spring.

Update

Previously:

Evergreen Public Schools began construction of a new elementary school off Northeast Four Seasons Lane, near 28th Street.

What’s new:

An enrollment border committee on Tuesday proposed changing six current elementary school boundaries to make room for the new school.

What’s next:

The Evergreen school board will make a final decision Jan. 22.

Howard Buck covers schools and education. He can be reached at 360-759-8015 or

howard.buck@columbian.com.

Originally published by HOWARD BUCK Columbian staff writer.

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