You can comment on proposed boundary changes affecting 10 Tacoma schools

Hundreds of Tacoma Public Schools students could be assigned to new schools under a boundary adjustment plan to be discussed at a public meeting Wednesday (Nov. 18).

The changes are the result of next year’s opening of Wainwright Intermediate School, which is under construction now. It will be the first school in the district for students in grades four through eight. Nearby Whittier Elementary will become Whittier Primary School, for students in preschool through grade three.

Both schools are located in Fircrest. The proposed changes would affect students in surrounding elementary and middle schools as well.

Elementary schools affected include Arlington, Edison, Manitou Park, Whittier, DeLong, Franklin and Geiger. Wainwright’s boundary area also will eventually include areas that now send students to either Truman, Mason or Gray middle schools.

Wainwright will open next fall for students in grades four through six. Seventh grade will be added in fall 2017 and eighth grade in fall 2018.

Under the proposal, schools such as Arlington and Franklin, which are currently under-enrolled, would add students. The attendance area for DeLong, which absorbed students from the old Wainwright Elementary after it closed in 2011, would shrink.

Even when the boundaries are permanently re-drawn, students could be enrolled outside their assigned school under Tacoma’s open enrollment policy. Parents can ask to transfer their child to any Tacoma school, as long as the receiving school has space and parents agree to provide transportation.

A boundary committee of roughly 30 people, including parents and principals from the 10 affected schools, was formed in September. The committee came up with the proposed changes. They were unable to decide on a plan for one slice of territory that falls between the Wainwright/Whittier and DeLong attendance areas, so committee members opted to wait and hear public comment Wednesday before proceeding.

The committee will present the plan at the Wednesday meeting, answer questions and listen to feedback.

Then the committee will further refine boundaries and make a final recommendation to Superintendent Carla Santorno, due in January.

This story was originally published November 17, 2015 at 12:36 PM with the headline "You can comment on proposed boundary changes affecting 10 Tacoma schools."