SOS - Woodridge Elementary PTSA

Update: The motion to close two elementary schools passed with three board members voting to close Wilburton and Eastgate Elementary Schools and two board members abstaining from the vote.

You can contact the board and district via "Let's Talk" or via email at board@bsd405.org

Letter to the Woodridge Community

Friday, March 10, 2023
Hi Woodridge Families,

The Woodridge PTSA Board has been following the updates from the district and the special school board meetings as the school consolidation proposal is reviewed. Next Thu, March 16th, there will be a special school board meeting to vote on the revised proposal shared with families on March 8th. Since the vote is imminent, we encourage families to continue to share their ideas, thoughts, and concerns with the school district and board to ensure that Woodridge stays open for our neighborhood kids.
If the school board approves the consolidation proposal, the Advanced Learning Program with ~ 216 students will transfer to Woodridge in the fall. The expected total number of students at Woodridge in the fall with the addition of Advanced Learning will be ~500 students.
The school board consolidation report and presentation on March 8th can be found here:

https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/bsd405/Board.nsf/files/CPS2YA7D7DBA/$file/March%209%202023%20Revised%20Recommendation%20to%20Board.pdf
https://go.boarddocs.com/wa/bsd405/Board.nsf/files/CPS39F0586F0/$file/Board%20Presentation%20March%209%202023.pdf

At the March 8th school board meeting, there was discussion about having an additional meeting on Monday prior to the vote on Thursday, but nothing has been posted on this yet. However, if an additional meeting is added, we will update our website and social media accordingly to let everyone know.

To date, speakers at the community meetings have mostly pushed back hard against the school district’s proposal, requesting an equity evaluation and more time for stakeholder input, before closing neighborhood schools. A few parents have suggested alternatives at these meetings such as closing other schools instead (such as Woodridge). We are heartbroken for all families impacted by this but will take a firm stand to keep our school open.

It is hard to know how the board will vote next week, but we encourage everyone to let the district and board know that Woodridge is the heart of our neighborhood, and we support keeping it open. Although we are sad for any families that may lose their current school and are still hopeful that an alternative solution can be found, Woodridge has always been a welcoming neighborhood and our PTSA and existing families will support the transition of any new students from the AL program in the fall.

You can contact the board and district at:
BSD: https://bsd405.org/lets-talk/
BSD School Board: board@bsd405.org

On behalf of the Woodridge Elementary PTSA

Sophia Siu
Woodridge Elementary PTSA President

The issue at hand

Bellevue School District (BSD) has proposed a consolidation of 3 of the 7 smaller elementary schools in the district due to budget cuts and enrollment declines. Melissa deVita, BSD’s Deputy Superintendent of Finance and Operations, shared this proposal and information to the BSD Board of Directors on January 12.

On February 9th, the following was announced and then updated on March 9th...

As proposed for the 2023-2024 school year, the recommendation for consolidation is as follows:

• North Area: Do not consolidate Ardmore. Add the Arabic Heritage Language program and work with staff to develop and implement innovative approaches at the school to attract and retain additional enrollment. Original North Area Recommendation: Combine Ardmore Elementary at Bennett Elementary, Cherry Crest Elementary, and Sherwood Forest Elementary.

• Midwest Area: Combine Wilburton Elementary at Clyde Hill Elementary and Enatai Elementary.

• South Area: Combine Eastgate Elementary at Spiritridge Elementary and Somerset Elementary. Move Spiritridge Advanced Learning to Woodridge Elementary. Original South Area Recommendation: Combine Eastgate Elementary at Spiritridge Elementary and Somerset Elementary. Move Spiritridge Advanced Learning to Woodridge Elementary.

More information can be found about the next steps in the process on the BSD website:
Planning for the Future - Process Timeline

How you can help

Attend School Board Meetings, Hearings, and Study Sessions! Whether virtual or in person, stay on top of the issue and let them know you're aware and involved.

The full timeline of the process can be found here:
https://bsd405.org/departments/finance/budget/planning-for-the-future-process-timeline/

You can attend meetings in person here:
Wilburton Instructional Service Center (WISC)
12241 Main St
Bellevue, WA 98005

You can attend board meetings virtually (and review past meeting recordings) by clicking HERE when the meeting begins. Navigate and click on the meeting you'd like to attend and then click the Video button just under the meeting title (or the Watch Video button at the bottom of the meeting's page to view the video of that meeting).

Future Meetings:

• Thursday, March 16, 4:30 p.m. - School Board Special Meeting to take action on recommendation

Send an email to the BSD School Board and Executives though the Let's Talk Forum. Click the "Planning Feedback" button and then the "Planning for the Future" button located further down the page. Directions can be found HERE.

Share your stories about attending BSD Schools, ask questions, and offer solutions.

United PTA LETTER To the SChool Board

The PTSA leadership from each of the impacted schools (Ardmore, Eastgate, Enatai, Phantom Lake, Sherwood Forest, Wilburton, and Woodridge) joined together to create a request to the school board.
We are asking that the schoolboard:

* Change the format of the meetings to be open Q&A
* Review specific policies to adhere to the proper timelines for school closures
* Provide more detail on alternatives, and address some conflicting data

Click the button below to view the letter.

Letter to the School Board

Heart of the Hill​

Letter to the Woodridge Community

The issue at hand

How you can help

United PTA LETTER To the SChool Board

Heart of the Hill