The Renton School District School Board will decide at its Wednesday meeting whether to open a school that’s been closed as a neighborhood school for at least 20 years at their Wednesday meeting.
The board members are considering opening Honey Dew Elementary School as a full kindergarten through fifth-grade school next year. Honey Dew is currently used to teach students from three district elementary schools.
In December 2010 the school board approved new elementary school boundaries, which were prepared by the district’s Boundary Review Committee. The committee consisted of parents from each elementary school and district staff members.
The school board, along with district staff, has been preparing for the opening for four years, monitoring student enrollment and budget considerations.
The district will hold two public meetings to present boundary changes on Dec. 7 and Dec. 8.
Honey Dew Elementary is at 800 Union Ave. N.E. and creating its boundaries triggers changes to the boundaries of eight other elementary schools: Bryn Mawr, Campbell Hill, Hazelwood, Highlands, Kennydale, Lakeridge, Maplewood Heights and Sierra Heights.
Boundary changes are necessary to populate the new school, accommodate enrollment growth throughout the district and alleviate overcrowding, according to the district.
High schools and middle schools will not be affected by the boundary changes for Honey Dew.
The boundary changes presented at the upcoming public meetings represent slight alterations to the boundaries approved by the school board in 2010.
Honey Dew is being opened because of funds that the district put away anticipating the school’s opening, even despite deep cuts made by the state Legislature, which has delayed its opening.
The school will house students that live in the surrounding neighborhood, students who currently attend other district elementary schools. It has been used to house students from other district elementary schools while those schools have been rebuilt.
Honey Dew was renovated during the past four years.
RENTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
BOUNDARY CHANGES MEETING
WHAT: Regular School Board Meeting
WHEN: 7 p.m., Nov. 30
WHERE: 300 S.W. Seventh St.
MORE INFO: 425-204-2300
WHAT: Boundary Changes Presentation
WHEN: 5 p.m., Dec. 7
WHERE: Bryn Mawr Elementary School, 8212 S. 118th St., in Renton
MORE INFO: www.rentonschools.us
WHAT: Boundary Changes Presentation
WHEN: 5 p.m., Dec. 8
WHERE: Highlands Elementary School, 2720 N.E. Seventh St.
MORE INFO: www.rentonschools.us
