Middle School Boundaries Set Cda School District Promises To Be Flexible For Students Negatively Affected By Change

The Coeur d’Alene School District voted 4-1 Monday night to adopt a plan to distribute students among the three middle schools next fall.

Board member Vern Newby opposed the committee’s plan and lobbied unsuccessfully to change the minds of other board members before the vote.

The controversial vote came at nearly 10 p.m., after more testimony from concerned patrons. The board has been taking testimony for more than six months on the issue.

The plan generally follows the natural boundaries of Highway 95 and Interstate 90 to keep neighborhoods together.

Six elementary schools and more than 400 students will be affected when classmates are split for middle school next year.

In an attempt to “humanize” their decision, the board pledged to institute a liberal transfer policy and a transition plan to help students who will be negatively affected by the new boundaries.

“Your comments about how we are impacting kids does not fall shallow for us,” board chairwoman Wanda Quinn told the audience.

“We know there are very real people dealing with these issues.”

“A liberal use of a transition plan and transfer policy would accommodate some students,” board member Jim Goedde said.

Knowing some neighbors would go away angry, the board seemed hesitant to commit to a decision. They were prodded by Superintendent David Rawls, who said the middle schools needed the boundaries set soon to juggle staff and programs in time for fall.

“There is a sense of urgency here,” he told the board. “Ultimately on this one, it’s a political decision.”

For more information on the board’s transfer policy and transition plan, contact the board administrative office at 664-8241.

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MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: BOUNDARIES For more information on the board’s transfer policy and transition plan, contact the board administrative office at 664-8241.