Schools

School Board To Consider Opening Honey Dew As An Elementary School

The Board will meet Wednesday, Nov. 30, 7 p.m. at the Kohlwes Education Center; two public meetings set to determine school boundary changes.

The Renton School Board members will consider opening Honey Dew Elementary School as a full kindergarten through fifth-grade school for the 2012-2013 school year at its next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 30, 7 p.m. at the .

Honey Dew is currently used for kindergarten classes only. The Board has worked with district staff for more than four years to prepare for the opening, including monitoring student enrollment and budgetary considerations.

In Dec. 2010 the that were prepared by the district’s Boundary Review Committee, a group of parents from each elementary school and district staff members. Since the initial approval, a number of alterations to those boundaries have been made and will be presented at two public meetings on Dec. 7 and 8.

Find out what's happening in Rentonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The opening of Honey Dew in the 2012-2013 academic year will trigger changes to the boundaries of eight other district elementary schools, including Bryn Mawr, Campbell Hill, Hazelwood, , , Lakeridge, and . The remaining district elementary school boundaries would remain unchanged.

The changes are necessary, according to a District press release, in order to populate the new school, accommodate enrollment growth throughout the district and alleviate overcrowding. No boundary changes are slated for District middle and high schools.

Find out what's happening in Rentonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Parents and students who live in the areas of elementary school boundary changes can see their new school assignment by visiting the Renton School District web site. New school assignments begin next school year (2012- 2013) if Honey Dew is opened as a K-5 elementary school.

If Honey Dew School is changed from kindergarten only to a full elementary school, the building will then cater to students who live in neighborhoods around the school. Currently, the majority of those students attend other district elementary schools.

Honey Dew last served as an elementary more than 20 years ago as a temporary schoolhouse while other district elementary schools were rebuilt. Due to voter support, all of the district’s 13 elementary schools have been completely rebuilt. Honey Dew has since been renovated in anticipation of future use, according to a statement from the District.

The District points to deep cuts made by the state Legislature over the past four years as reason for why the school has not yet been opened. The district has, however, put away funds each year for the inevitable opening of the school.

 

TWO PRESENTATIONS ON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOUNDARY CHANGES

Wednesday, Dec. 7, 5-7 p.m. Bryn Mawr Elementary School 8212 S 118th St., Seattle 

Thursday, Dec. 8, 5-7 p.m. 2720 NE 7th St., Renton

 

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here