MISSOULA – Students at three of Missoula’s elementary schools could be sitting in different classrooms next year after the Missoula County Public School Board approved the first round of boundary changes that could be made over the next couple of years.
A special committee worked on the elementary boundary changes through the winter and spring, re-aligning student populations to match growing enrollment, and the facilities changes made as part of the Smart Schools 2020 improvements.
But after months of work, the panel decided to recommend changes only affecting some students at the new Jeannette Rankin Elementary, Chief Charlo and Russell School. Those are all to ease overcrowding and “leveling out” the student population at Rankin.
Under the changes approved this week, current Jeannette Rankin students — including newly registered Kindergarten students will stay in that building through fifth grade.
Younger siblings will also be enrolled, as long as their older sibling is still attending Rankin. Transportation for some students will end in 2021.
The district impacted by the transportation changes will be receiving forms in the mail that have to be returned by July 11.
No other students will see boundary changes this fall. However, more elementary changes could be made in the 2020-21 school year. And next winter, the district will look at boundary adjustments for its three high schools.
