Looking for the best of the worst case scenarios

Bethel's Long Range Facilities Task Force reconvened on September 18th to study future options to ease the overcrowding in our schools if November's School Construction Bond does not pass.

The School Board has already authorized planning for a reboundary of the district next year, and a return to year-round schools in 2021 (Bethel was previously a year-round district from 1974-1981).

Former members of the Task Force will joined new members, selected from a recent application process which resulted in an overwhelming amount of community interest, due to the parental impact of the options being considered.

Specifically the Task Force looked at multi-track year-round schools, double shifting, re-purposing commercial sites into schools, leasing classroom space at adjacent districts, turning a middle school into an elementary school, and converting Elk Plain K-8 back to a K-5 configuration to free up space for more elementary students.

The Task Force will analyze the impact of these options, both financially and otherwise, on the district. This will include the impact on transportation, food services, maintenance, building capacity, staffing, and the impact on the community – daycare, family schedules, vacations, etc.

For many of our students, school starts pretty early. As winter approaches and the days get shorter, our headlights pick up the silhouettes of kids waiting at bus stops in the early morning hours. But what if school started even earlier?

Pajama Day, every day
“Double Shifting” is one idea currently being explored by the Long Range Facilities Task Force to help combat overcrowding in the event the November bond does not pass.
In a double shifting model, half of a school’s student population would attend from roughly 6 a.m. to noon, and the other half would attend from noon until 6 p.m. In this scenario, you can only imagine what time the buses would have to roll to start picking kids up in the morning. One parent said, “In my house it would be like pajama day, every day.”

“Blue Light Special” on education
In preparation for the first Task Force meeting, district administrators prepared a list of possible educational models that would help take the pressure off of our overcrowded schools. With a successful November bond being “Plan A,” this list of “Plan B” scenarios included everything from multi-track, year-round schools to the idea of leasing local commercial spaces to use as classrooms. Specifically mentioned was the old Kmart building on Pacific Avenue and 176th.
As the first meeting began, Task Force members added their own ideas to the mix, including having elementary schools utilize available classroom space at nearby middle schools, using property at other districts, and online learning options.
That was followed by a spirited discussion that included a brainstorming session looking at potential impacts and pitfalls of each of the scenarios in question. The Task Force left no stone unturned, requesting more information on the impact to academics, staff recruitment and retention, maintenance, transportation, food services, traffic, and family schedules under each proposed model, as well as the financial impact on the district.
Another big topic that was broached was the impact on athletic programs under the new models, specifically in regards to year-round schools and double shifting.
The next task force meeting will be held in mid-October. Prior to that, the district will be gathering information and finding answers to many of the questions proposed by the Task Force so they can continue their discussions and decision making as they move forward, planning for the worst.