The proposed boundary changes in the northeast quadrant of the Edmonds School District affect nine elementary schools, and parents from those schools came together Nov. 9 to ask questions and suggest adjustments of the proposal in a citizen feedback forum.
The principals from each school involved and school district officials were available, and large maps of the proposed changes hung on room dividers so people could talk about details of the changes.
The nine schools involved in the changes are Beverly, Brier, Cedar Way, Hilltop, Lynndale, Lynnwood Intermediate, Martha Lake, Oak Heights and Spruce Primary elementary schools. According to the proposal, Beverly, Brier, Cedar Way and Lynndale will be absorbing more students without any current neighborhoods being moved to a different school. Hilltop, Lynnwood Intermediate, Martha Lake, Oak Heights and Spruce will all lose students from areas within their current boundaries and some will also gain students from neighborhoods.
The ongoing development of the Oak Heights, Martha Lake and Hilltop communities is leaving all of those schools crowded, and moving students from these areas to neighboring schools creates a domino effect.
Responses from affected parents varied throughout the night from understanding to unhappy.
The open house on Nov. 9 was an opportunity for school board members to listen to the concerns of the citizens, said Patrick Shields, a school board member.
“Everybody’s concerned about the impact on their families,” Shields said.
He wants people to know that the school board has the opportunity to make adjustments to the current proposal. “We haven’t finished yet,” he said.
Spruce Primary principal Lynda Tripp said the schools involved are planning events and activities to smooth the transition that will take place with the approval of the proposed changes. Learning specialists from the schools will meet to ensure the adjustment goes well for children, she said.
Tom Pearce, who currently lives within Hilltop’s boundaries, is only half a mile from the school. As the proposal stands now, his children will attend Brier Elementary, which is four miles from his home. New sidewalks have just been installed, and his children could make the 10-minute walk to Hilltop, but the proposal means they would have to be bused to Brier.
“If a child can walk to school, they should be able to walk to school,” Pearce said.
He believes that would be a more financially sound choice as well.
“I really believe that the school district needs to put money into classrooms, not buses,” Pearce said.
Ann, Tom Pearce’s wife, also is concerned about the social effect this has on children. Her son would have to adjust not only to a new school, teachers and classmates, but also to different after-school programs, clubs and sports, she said.
Darcy Harriman, who lives within Hilltop’s boundaries, will not be moved by the proposed changes, but her son will still be affected by the changes taking place around him, and that concerns her, she said.
“It affects the family as a whole,” Harriman said.
JoAnn Koplitz, within Hilltop’s current boundaries, wants to know that families will not have to go through these changes again in three to five more years as the development of the area continues.
Koplitz, Harriman and the Pearces understand why the changes are needed, but their concerned about the effects that come with changes.
“It’s more than just switching schools,” Ann Pearce said. “It’s switching your whole community.”
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