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High School Boundary Update

When the Beaverton School District (BSD) decided to locate its newest high school in the southern tip of the district, it was inevitable that the result would be huge changes for families in our overcrowded northern end of the district. The rationale behind the decision can be debated, but with construction underway at the South Cooper Mountain location, members of the High School Boundary Adjustment Committee (BAC) were faced with the equivalent of rearranging deck chairs. Families had to be moved somewhere.

One reason many parents are upset is that BSD high schools are not all the same. Sunset has a great reputation and many special programs, including the International Baccalaureate (IB) track. Families forced to switch to Beaverton or Aloha won’t have those choices. Realtors estimate that up to a third of the price of a house is dependent on the quality of local schools.

In addition, BSD administrators seem to be in love with busses. They don’t seem to see a problem with the impact that additional travel has on family life or student safety. “Buses are cheap,” compared with building new schools. The district gets reimbursed for bus expenses by a variety of sources, so it seems like an easy solution.

Portables are cheap too. Westview currently has 18. A local news story recently highlighted a parent’s dismay that her child’s class was moved into a portable. What does it say about our respect for our kids and the importance of education that we’re putting them into trailers?

Next steps

On May 16, 2016 the School Board approved the transition plan but asked that the Superintendent provide additional consideration about two of the criteria: proximity to school and transportation costs. It was emphasized that a great deal of work has happened over the last six months with the boundaries.

BSD has released a revised high school boundary map. It is accompanied by a description of the four areas of consideration, including rationale from the Committee for its recommendation, and the trade-offs that would be associated with changing the committee’s recommended attendance boundary.

Five open houses will take place this month—one at each comprehensive high school. The BSD Board said that those sessions need to be very clear on what the public can expect and what the process will be. The Board wanted a very specific agenda and meeting materials to be available ahead of time. These meetings will be for listening purposes and no decisions will be made at these meetings. Board members are encouraged but not required to attend.

The meetings will be followed by a review of the public input with District staff, the High School Boundary Adjustment Committee and new BSD Superintendent Don Grotting. That may result in further revisions, and creation of a final map.

Grotting will then submit his recommended map and criteria report to the Board for review and final adoption in late September or early October.

The five open-house style meetings will include time for public testimony.

Monday, September 12, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, Sunset High cafeteria

Tuesday, September 13, 6:30-8:30 pm, Westview High cafeteria

Wednesday, September 14, 6:30-8:30 pm, Aloha High cafeteria

Tuesday, September 20, 6:30-8:30 pm, Southridge High community room

Wednesday, September 21, 6:30-8:30 pm, Beaverton High cafeteria

At each meeting, there will be enlarged versions of the map, brief welcoming comments and public testimony. The information and format will be the same at each open house. Individuals may also provide public comment online.

Members of the High School Boundary Adjustment Committee will convene on Thursday, September 22, 6:30-8 pm, at the Administration Center conference rooms to give their input about the areas of consideration and review the public input. This meeting is public but no additional public testimony will be taken.

Links to the newest map and more information about the high school boundary process can be found on the High School Boundary Adjustment Process webpage.

District seeks applicants for Elementary Boundary Adjustment Advisory Committee

Parents and community members of Jacob Wismer and Springville K-8 schools are encouraged to apply to serve on BSD’s Elementary School Boundary Adjustment Advisory Committee. The Committee will use School Board Policy JC to study and recommend attendance boundary changes to establish an attendance boundary for the new Kaiser Road K-5 school that is scheduled to open in the fall of 2017, as well as balance enrollment at Jacob Wismer Elementary School and Springville K-8.

The committee work will begin on October 6 and will conclude by November 2016. The committee will meet twice a month. Meetings will be open to the public. Public comment will be taken at each meeting. There will be boundary activities for the public while the Committee is working. The Committee will report out at each meeting.

The Committee will consist of three parent/community members* each from the Jacob Wismer and Springville K-8 school communities, along with the principals for Jacob Wismer and Springville K-8 schools, who will be ex-officio members of the committee. A BSD Technical Team will develop materials and support the Committee.

Those who wish to apply should submit a letter or email of interest by 4 pm on Friday, September 23, including name & contact information (mailing address, e-mail address, phone number); a brief resumé, and responses to the following questions: Why do you want to serve on the Elementary School Boundary Adjustment Advisory Committee? What skills and experience do you have that would benefit the Advisory Committee? (Please limit your response to no more than one page). Send letters or emails of interest to:

Beaverton School District Communications & Community Involvement Department, 16550 SW Merlo Rd., Beaverton, OR 97003 or email to: community_involvement@beaverton.k12.or.us.

For more information, please contact the Communications & Community Involvement Department at 503-356-4360.

*Cannot be an employee of the Beaverton School District.

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