Report harassment, intimidation or bullying with Vector Alert or at your school. 0. And what do you remember about it? Parents say they were caught off guard by the plan to consolidate and feel like its too late for their opinions to significantly affect the final decision. she says. The district identified seven schools it says are being considered for consolidation into other schools. Three short years later, Bellewood Elementary became the fourth school to be consolidated, sending students to Lake Hills Elementary in June 1981. Local officials said such moves could be necessary to resolve budget shortfalls. Athletics . Immigrant, Undocumented Students, and ICE Enforcement Resources, Bellevue School District Virtual Academy 2021-2022, School Consolidation Recommendation Updates: Planning for the Future, March 16 during a School Board Special Meeting, New Staff and Community Frequently Asked Questions, Planning for the Future Process Timeline, In-person at Wilburton Instructional Service Center, Rainier Room (12241 Main St, Bellevue, WA 98005), Civil Rights, Racial Discrimination, and Gender Expression or Identity Discrimination: Civil Rights/Nondiscrimination Compliance Coordinator Nancy Pham, (425) 456-4040 or, Sex-based Discrimination, including Sexual Harassment: Title IX Coordinator: Jeff Lowell, (425) 456-4010 or, Disability Discrimination: Section 504/ADA Coordinator: Heather Edlund, (425) 456-4156 or. We cannot keep the same service levels in all of our schools if we keep the same number of elementary schools that we currently have, and allow our enrollment to drop down as low as 200 students per school.". Bellevue JR/SR High School . In short, a total of seven schools are up for consolidation, including: Ardmore, Eastgate, Enatai, Phantom Lake, Sherwood Forest, Woodridge, and Wilburton. These are the schools that had been recommended to be consolidated with other Bellevue schools. Wilburton would move to Clyde Hill and Enatai elementaries. Two Bellevue Elementary Schools Plan to Consolidate, Ardmore Removed So why do we need a foundation for Bellevue's public schools? BELLEVUE, Wash. There's a new timeline at play in the Bellevue School District (BSD) following the staff's recommendations to close Ardmore, Wilburton and Eastgate elementary schools and. Mar 17, 2023, 9:45 AM | Updated: 10:20 am (Photo from KIRO 7) BY L.B. Advising, tutoring, counseling, career planning, and other services help you reach new heights. Enrollment Decline Could Result in Closure of 3 Bellevue Elementary Schools Open houses about Bellevue school consolidations being held this week Copyright 2023 Bellevue Schools Foundation | Bellevue Schools Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization #91-1080997, Arts, Enrichment & Innovation Grants 2023-2024, Inspiration & Incubation Grants 2023-2024, Read about the gift to our Mental Health program. As a part of this announcement, it was included that Ardmore would not be amongst the schools that are to be consolidated. The PTAs at the schools up for consolidation, including Eastgate, sent a letter to the Bellevue School Board this week which raises questions of equity regarding whether the school closures will disproportionately affect Black and Latino students, or English language learners and low-income students. The number of open seats is equivalent to two elementary schools, according to deVita. Still, its also important to help your children to develop resilience as they move to the new school. Sam Houston State University. There have been approximately 15 school consolidations from 1978 to the present, starting with Ashwood Elementary School in June of that year. Following the recommendation, the Board held formal hearings for each of the impacted school communities identified in the recommendation. Lake Hills received a new principal, Mike McBride, at the beginning of the consolidation, who reached out with empathy to both communities and committed to honoring both schools traditions. Home | Washington Education Association It gives the sense that people are not being treated fairly and the viewers dont really know the breadth of the dissatisfaction. The final decision will be voted on by the School Board on March 16th. One parent wonders out loud that if attendance was such a problem, why did Bellevue open a brand new elementary, Wilburton, in 2018? The Bellevue Education Association is a professional association and union that serves as an advocate for its members and empowers the individuals it represents. One parent, who wouldn't share her name with Soundside, says she moved to the Eastgate neighborhood so her kids could go to school here. The district said it chose those schools because they have seen significant enrollment decline. Sheri Y: Stop looking at what youre losing and look at what youre gaining. The seven schools involved in the discussion include some that have been part of the community for 70 years. This K-6 school located in the west Bellevue area was also known for serving neuro-diverse and special needs students. But the local districts talk more about consolidation, which blends multiple school communities into one building, and may keep the other impacted buildings open for certain uses. At one table, there's a cluster of parents gathered around deVita, whos fielding rapid-fire questions. Bellevue School District Proposes Consolidation of Elementary Schools Racism is designed to privilege White people and set Whiteness as the norm. According to a recent report by The Telegraph, the Isle of Man government has halted certain education in schools following an alleged incident involving a drag queen who purportedly expelled a student from class for challenging the notion of 73 genders. Some people in blue Eastgate t-shirts cheer them on with signs declaring their support for the school. A crowd of kids has surrounded somebody in an Eagle mascot costume. With BSD staff, students, and administrators working towards our own personal ideals, it has come time for us to work together to reach a common vision, and to expand our efforts towards a shared goal. Bellevue superintendent makes recommendation for elementary school I must acknowledge that over the past several months, our learning community has engaged in personal, passionate and often difficult discussions. Recent studies have found that two-thirds of Americans regret obtaining their college degrees, with a staggering 43.5 million people in the United States burdened by student loan debt. Sheri Y: I only know what I read and saw on the news. The largest employee union of the Los Angeles Police Department is proposing a change in their duties, where officers will no longer respond to over 25 types of calls. The process had the effect of pitting one school against another and both schools against the school district. This has resulted in a $20 million drop in revenue. Incoming Superintendent Kelly Aramaki stressed the recommendations arent final, and the district will continue listening to families from impacted schools. The district also posted a timeline for the process. What impact did it have on you then? Seattle has 106 public schools with ~50,000 students, and Bellevue has 30 public schools with ~18,000 students.Both districts have seen big enrollment declines in recent years due to factors like the pandemic, which led some parents to home-school their children or enroll them in private schools. 3. Parents are grappling with what deVita is saying. "The question really comes down to what is the priority in our school district?" Taking multiple perspectives, data points and suggestions into consideration, I have updated the recommendations for consolidation proposed for the 2023-2024 school year. Some say they bought their houses here, in Bellevue a very expensive city so they could be near this school. Bellevue School District tweaks closure plan of elementary schools We are ever thankful to everyone for living out BSD values with temperance and virtue acknowledging the work ahead during this transition phase of building consolidations. Play the game from SEAtodays first-ever trivia night, Where to find great vegan and vegetarian eats in Seattle, Bar bathrooms in Seattle that have serious style, Marination donates two food trucks to South Seattle College, Where to volunteer during One Seattle Day of Service, Bill Nye the Science Guy returns to city that made him a star. A letter sent to families says one plan calls for consolidating three elementary schools with the largest declines to date. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. Bellevue CSD Administration Office 1601 State Street, Bellevue IA 52031 563.872.4001 ext. The district plans to hold a series of staff engagement sessions and open houses for impacted families and community members in the upcoming month. A series of sessions and open houses for the community will be held over the upcoming month. You may have heard recent chatter in Seattle and Bellevue about possible public school closings and consolidations down the line. Which is the fate of this brand new school? Our independent, nonprofit newsroom produces award-winning stories, podcasts and events. Bellevue School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. Some parents upset with Bellevue School District's recommended elementary consolidation plan. Sherrie M: Watching the recent outbursts on TV, I wondered how much the post-COVID-19 environment has augmented the angry response. Bellevue, like many school districts, both locally and nationally, is faced with some difficult decisions on how to responsibly manage the fiscal fallout of these enrollment shifts. Bellevue parents, students await district's decision on - MSN By. There was no resistance because we trusted him. By KIRO 7 News Staff and Bridget Chavez, KIRO 7 News March 13, 2023 at 4:48 pm PDT. Sherrie M: I wish I had initially held more space in my mind about the possible rationale for closure. The Board has extended the time for Public Comment to 50 minutes for greater community engagement. Inside, its organized like a science fair. We recognize that any potential scenarios may cause disappointment and concerns for students, staff, and families in our community. With the intent to create a tolerant, anti-racist BSD culture and community, we work towards: 1. According to the BSD Demographic and Enrollment Future Trends, factors such as decreasing birth rates, losses stemming from the recent outbreaks of disease, smaller elementary grade sizes, and rising housing costs are all contributing to the decline. A final recommendation to the Board is tentatively set for the regularly scheduled Board meeting on February 9, 2023. We also felt confused about the criteria that were being used to make the decision. Pencils down for a sec. On average, these individuals owe $37,574. In addition, intentional outreach was conducted with families of students experiencing homelessness, receiving Multi-Lingual Learner services, attending preschool, and enrolled in special education services. Gov. Inslee weighs in on potential Bellevue school consolidation - MSN She asked the School Board to prioritize groups like students with special needs, and provide adequate support for students in the consolidated schools as they navigate the school year, knowing it will be their last in the building together.. The Times of London recently published an article on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, focusing on his potential presidential aspirations, according to MSN. The piece, penned by Times US editor David Charter, described DeSantis's presidential ambitions as "his worst-kept secret.". As proposed for the 2023-2024 school year, the recommendation for consolidation is as follows: North Area: Combine Ardmore Elementary at Bennett Elementary, Cherry Crest Elementary, and Sherwood Forest Elementary. Sherrie M: While it seems more emotional now on the heels of COVID-19. Open houses about Bellevue Schools consolidation being held this week Seven elementary schools are up for consideration: Ardmore, Eastgate, Enatai, Phantom Lake, Sherwood Forest, Wilburton,. Fred: The kids knew and watched what us adults said and did. Follow me now! Two, lots of meetings were held, so we felt like things were transparent. Bellevue families have limited time to register their concern about school closures. Additionally, the increased competition from private and alternative schools for a shrinking pool of students has further impacted enrollment numbers. BELLEVUE, Wash. The Bellevue School Board is expected to make a final decision Thursday on a recommendation to consolidate two elementary schools in the district. The district cited. BELLEVUE, Wash. The Bellevue School District (BSD) will host a consolidation study session Thursday as the district prepares to finalize its decision to close three elementary schools. The Bellevue School District recently updated their proposed consolidation plan, which had previously included seven schools and was narrowed down to Ardmore, Eastgate and Wilburton Elementary. As of the 2023-2024 school year, the district will begin to be funded at the current enrollment levels. The school district was looking for buy-in, and they gave all the information first then closed Ashwood. Is WAs health hub model the 'secret sauce in treating fentanyl addiction? Across the state, private school enrollment is up by a bit more than 8,300 students, about an 11% increase since 2019. In retrospect, what would you change about your response to the news and/or process? Wasnt that a bad financial decision by the district? The Parisian police have recently enforced a prohibition on gatherings within certain locations near significant governmental establishments, as a means to quell the demonstrations opposing France's proposed increase of the retirement age by two years without proper voting procedures, Fox News reports. Downtown Bellevue's most up-to-date lifestyle news featuring: Entertainment, Real Estate, Restaurants, Shopping, Arts, Business and more! We are moving forward together to ensure students transition with support and reassurance from trusted adults and professionals. In 1952, Clyde Hill Elementary was opened, making it the oldest elementary school.