Admin

Elementary School in Columbia

By
Real Estate Agent with Re/Max Boone Realty

The new elementary school at Waco Road is planned to be opened for Fall 2009 school session.  They currently plan to house 525 students.  Of course, this means school boundaries will need to be redrawn again.

This happened five years ago with the opening of Paxton Keeley.  Sometimes the redistricting doesn't make sense to some parents.  I remember when they redistricted for Paxton Keeley.  We had been in Fairview, we were around the corner from Mill Creek but were redistricted into Paxton Keeley.  The furthest elementary school from our home.  Doesn't make much sense right?  I'm currently in Parkade and don't expect to be redistricted this time since I'm so far south of the new site, but who knows? 

I imagine they have very tough decisions to make as to how to redistrict and have to draw the lines somewhere.  The new school currently lies in the district of Blue Ridge.  However it will also affect the lines for  Derby Ridge, Cedar Ridge, Parkade and Shepard elementary schools. Northern slivers of Field and Lee could be affected as well.

Throughout the month of October there will be several meetings for the public to attend to provide feedback on the lines.  They won't be able to please everyone but hopefully with enough community involvement they will be able to make a good decision for the most amount of people.  You can view the current district lines at http://www.columbia.k12.mo.us/   Public meetings still to take place will be held at 7 pm at the following schools: Shepard, Oct. 16; Field, Oct. 18; Parkade, Oct. 23; and Derby Ridge, Oct. 25. Forums at Lee and Cedar Ridge are yet to be scheduled.

After this Columbia will be faced with the opening of a new high school.  The school board will review recommendations from the site review committee on Nov. 12th.  Currently the #1 spot in the running is on St. Charles Road.  This is located in Northeast Columbia and would accommodate the growing north and south east communities.  They are planning for the new high school to open in the fall of 2010. 

If you have not had a chance to yet, pick up a copy of Columbia Home and Lifestyles Oct/Nov issue.  It provides a great article on all the available educational opportunities to our kids.  Besides the 18 or 19 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 3 jr highs, and 3 high schools there are many private schools available for all ages.

With all this being said, will redistricting affect you?  If so, how do you feel about sending your kids to a new school?  What are your concerns with that? 

Just wondering?