In 2016, Mercer Island will have a new public elementary school located off S.E. 40th Street near Gallagher Hill Road at the site of the old North Mercer Junior High. When the new school is operational, the question of which neighborhoods will go to which of the four elementary schools will have to be answered.

The Mercer Island School Board has authorized Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano to establish an 18-20 member Boundary Committee that will be facilitated by boundary review process expert Richard Withycombe. The school board will also approve a set of values that will guide the decision-making of the Boundary Committee.

Withycombe, from Withycombe Scotten & Associates in Portland, Ore., has facilitated boundary review processes in 14 Puget Sound school districts, including Bellevue, Lake Washington and Issaquah. Director of Transportation Todd Kelsay will provide technical expertise to the Boundary Committee throughout the process.

“Richard has incredible local experience working on school boundary issues with Puget Sound communities,” said Dr. Plano. “We have the utmost faith in his experience and ability to work constructively with a diverse group of Mercer Island stakeholders.”

The Boundary Committee, which will include the principals of each elementary school, will launch in October and should conclude work by the end of February 2015. The committee will have nine meetings during that time and minutes from those meetings will be posted online. In consultation with school principals and PTAs, Dr. Plano will select members from each school as well as the wider community. Interested community members who do not have children currently attending elementary schools should contact Dr. Plano for more information by Sept. 19.

“The issues facing the committee will be myriad and complex, so I look forward to getting started,” added Dr. Plano.