Edmonds school board discusses proposed boundary changes

The Edmonds school board heard from dozens of parents at its Tuesday meeting as it discussed a proposed new attendance boundary map. A district committee has studied the changes since early in the year, and board members said the last boundary change came nearly 30 years ago. The map sets a boundary for the district's new Salish Middle School, scheduled to open in fall 2028, and accompanies a move of sixth grade from elementary to middle schools. Board members said it also aims to balance enrollment across elementary and middle schools.

Much of the concern came from a neighborhood in unincorporated Bothell. Parents there say more than 150 families would shift from Hilltop Elementary to Hazelwood Elementary. Some parents are seeking outside legal counsel and asked the board to push its final decision, now set for Oct. 27, to the end of January. They allege the district is not following its own boundary policy, which says that where possible it will limit disruption to learning programs and keep neighborhood groupings. Parents from Sherwood Elementary and several other schools raised worries about children changing schools several times in a short period, including because of construction of a new Westgate Elementary.

Board members said the committee considered family feedback and made adjustments but could not accommodate every request. The superintendent said keeping the timeline lets families request school changes, with applications open through spring for elementary schools and mid-February for secondary schools. The board president said the district does not know how many students would change schools, and cited overcrowding and limited state funding.