The Bellingham School District Board of Directors unanimously adopted new elementary school boundaries outlined in Proposal A with some modifications. These boundaries will be implemented beginning in fall 2008 for southside Bellingham and fall 2009 for northside Bellingham to coincide with the opening of new schools.
The Board stated at the May 10 meeting that it selected this option with modifications because it best meets the criteria of keeping strong neighborhood connections to schools and has the lowest transportation costs.
The new boundaries will populate the new Yew Street Road and Aldrich Road elementary schools and reduce enrollment at the district's most crowded elementary schools. Enrollment at Geneva Elementary is projected to decrease by about 60 students and at Happy Valley by about 200 students. The Board also stated that it wants to look at other options to further support Geneva families and staff in managing growth. The district is currently reviewing property in Sudden Valley for a future elementary school.
The changes made to Proposal A involve keeping students living along 30th Street south of Old Fairhaven Parkway at Larrabee Elementary and having students living in the Woodlands area attend Lowell Elementary.
Click here to view current and new boundary maps for 2008 and 2009.
The Elementary Boundary Review Task Force was comprised of parents, community members, certificated, classified, and administrative staff. The Task Force presented its recommendations to the Superintendent and School Board in April and public input was gathered through three public input sessions and feedback forms prior to the Board making its decision.
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