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High School boundary changes stir
neighborhood opposition
By Virginia Bruce

The need to redraw boundaries for the Beaverton School District (BSD) High Schools was triggered in May 2014, when voters approved a $680 million bond for capital improvements. Four of BSD’s five High Schools are already near, or over, capacity. High schools currently use 21 portable classrooms; Westview HS has 16 and is at 123% of permanent capacity.

At the time the Bond Measure was proposed, it was already known that a new high school would be built in the far southwest corner of the district, in an area called South Cooper Mountain, at SW 175th and Scholls Ferry Rd. The BSD district boundary is the western margin of the 47-acre site.

The district's new high school is being built at the southwest edge of the district in an area that is mostly rural now.

Some people felt that the north end of the district, where rapid growth is already underway (North Bethany, Bonny Slope West) should be the location for the new school. District spokesperson Maureen Wheeler says that they did consider sites in the area, but it was difficult to find a site that met the criteria of size, number of parcels that would need to be combined, and price (among others). “We have to pay market price,” she said.

They found a willing seller in an area that Metro added to the UGB in 2011. The city of Beaverton says they expect to see the development of between 3,746 to 5,138 residential dwelling units within BSD’s boundary in that area. The district says, “The selected site provides long-term balance in high school locations: two in the north, two in the middle, and two in the south.”

To help manage the process, BSD hired a consultant team, Withycombe Scotten & Associates, which has worked with BSD and other northwest school districts on similar projects. “They have a long history with us,” notes Wheeler. “They didn’t just come in cold.” She continued, “The overall process was designed collaboratively, with our technical team, the consultants, Board members and me.”

The process to create new school boundaries began in October and is expected to be finalized in March 2016. A Boundary Adjustment Committee was formed, with five sub-groups—consisting of the Prinicipal of each existing HS, and two HS parents/community members. A Technical Team representing Teaching & Learning, Facilities, Communications & Community Involvement and Transportation departments is assisting the Advisory Committee.

A “Springboard” map was released in October, to the extreme dismay of parents from Sunset and several other affected schools. Wheeler says the map is “just a starting point. The consultants told us that the initial map never stands without adjustment. We still have a long way to go until March, and I believe the map will change remarkably.”

At each of the previous meetings, the five groups break out and discuss pros and cons, and talk about possible swaps. Beginning at the November meeting, they are also considering the flood of comments sent in by parents and community members. “Every Friday,” says Wheeler, “we compile the week’s comments and forward them to the Committee members.” Some parents have expressed concern that the committee isn’t paying much attention to the comments.

Many of the comments address the Springboard proposal in relation to the district’s published criteria (see sidebar). The “Student body composition” criterion includes equity, measured by the number of free and reduced lunch price students at each school. “That’s one of the four pillars of our district,” says Wheeler. “Our Principals value diversity.” Some critics felt too much time was spent on that issue.

However, local parents also express concern for “quality of life” issues such as added travel time for students, disruption of families with long ties of loyalty to their high school, and continuity of student activities and programs of study (language and other specialized courses that may not be available in the new schools, for example).

“We are going to be sensitive to all these transition issues,” Wheeler says. “Students in some programs may be allowed to stay in those schools. These are all details that will be addressed before we’re finished.”

Parents in the eastern end of the Cedar Mill area have been very vocal in opposition to the plan to split the district at Cornell Road, sending students to the south to Beaverton High. They, along with parents in the Raleigh Hills area, have formed a group: Sensible Boundaries for Beaverton Schools. They cite travel time and traffic safety issues, among other concerns. There's a petition posted by West Haven residents asking for the area to remain in Sunset. It's open for everyone to sign.

Wheeler indicated that she thought the map would change in that area. “We know this is hard,” says Wheeler. “We have to do this work, though. We really do want people to continue to comment.”

Upcoming Committee Meetings

There will be no public comment taken during the Committee meetings, although they are open to the public. All Committee meetings are at the BSD Administration Office, 16550 SW Merlo Rd., Beaverton.

            Thursday, December 17, 6 pm

            Thursday, February 4, 2016, 6 pm

            Thursday, March 3, 2016, 6 pm

            Thursday, March 17, 2016, 6 pm

Public Hearings

The Public Preview, on Thursday, January 21, 2016, 6 pm, Five Oaks Middle School Commons, 1600 NW 173rd Ave., Beaverton, will give parents and community members an opportunity to review and comment on the preliminary High School Boundary recommendations.

A formal hearing regarding the High School Boundary and transition recommendations will occur on Thursday, February 18, 2016, 6 pm, at Five Oaks Commons. The Committee will review and adjust the recommendations in response to the input given at the hearing and email comments. The final decision will be made by the District Superintendent, Jeff Rose.

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