Parents favor two options in Snoqualmie Valley school boundary switch

Set to redraw the boundaries that define where children attend elementary schools in the Snoqualmie Valley School District, a staff committee has found a clear parent preference for two of the five options.

Set to redraw the boundaries that define where children attend elementary schools in the Snoqualmie Valley School District, a staff committee has found a clear parent preference for two of the five options.

The five scenarios aimed to match student enrollment over the next several years with school capacities, said committee chairman Jeff Hogan.

With the options, committee members tried to keep neighborhoods together and minimize disruption of student learning patterns during the boundary move. Sibling placement, coordination of bus transport, fiscal responsibility and support of a diverse student population are other factors in the process.

Public input was collected on all five options through a web-based survey and Options A and C were seen as the least disruptive of the five presented options.

However, an additional Option F was created that would disrupt less students than Options A and C. The Option F modification includes an area in Option A to shift from CVES to SES, moving it to North Bend Elementary.

Each of the options included two enrollment charts, the first showing how the enrollments would change for each school from 2010 through 2014. The second chart shows the number of classrooms needed in each school to serve the projected enrollment for the next four years.

Projections have been developed using current student enrollment information, King County birth records and information on planned and proposed housing developments throughout the district.

The committee has now asked parents to look at the three options now in consideration and to comment in a final online survey on which they think best aligns with the selection criteria. The survey will close at 8 a.m. April 12. To help parents understand, ask questions and share feedback on each option three community meetings will be offered to discuss the options.

Meetings are as follows:

• 6 p.m. Monday, March 29, at North Bend Elementary.

• 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 30, at Snoqualmie Middle School.

• 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 31, at an online E-meeting, giving individuals the opportunity to participate from a home computer.

The committee will take all feedback into consideration before they present a recommendation to the school board on Thursday, April 15, where the community will also be given the opportunity to make public comment.

The board is expected to make a final decision on their preferred boundary option that will be implemented next fall, the following week.

To view option maps and charts, visit www.svsd410.org.