West Ada trustees on Monday approved new school boundaries that will impact 574 students in a district of 38,000.

The new Independence Elementary will open this fall to take pressure off the nearby overcrowded Star Elementary on the district’s western edge. That new school is the catalyst for the boundary changes that impact students at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

While the district’s enrollment has declined in recent years, more families are moving into subdivisions on the west side, necessitating the new school and boundaries.

Staff members have worked on the boundary changes for over a year and began a public process in November with three town halls to hear feedback from parents.

Parents in November told staff members that while they understand the need for the changes, they were frustrated their kids might have to attend a new school and make new friends.

Over the past couple of months, staff members presented three proposals with that feedback in mind. The original proposal in November would have impacted 694 elementary students, and the final plan impacts 529.

“They basically heard from the community and decided that the impact didn’t need to be as great this time around,” district spokesperson Michelle Edmonds told EdNews on Monday.

The biggest change in the final proposal is the grandfathering of students who will enter their final year of elementary and middle school. High school students moving into grades 10, 11 and 12 will also be grandfathered.

These students can choose to stay at their home school or move to their new school under the new boundaries, said Miranda Carson, director of transportation and planning. But the district will not provide transportation to the grandfathered students if they choose to stay.

The final plan impacts 529 students at Star, Eagle, Pleasant View, Ponderosa and Meridian elementary schools and 45 students at Star and Eagle middle schools. The plan grandfathers in 130 high school students at Owyhee High. Edmonds told EdNews that the plan will impact 574 students next school year.

“This was a unique opportunity,” Carson said, referring to the decision to grandfather in so many grades. 

Before a unanimous vote to approve the changes, Trustee David Binetti said he appreciates the effort of staff and committee members.

“These things are not ever ideal because you are impacting students at the end of the day,” Binetti said. “But I can say that I have the highest degree of confidence that we’ve done the absolute best.”

To see if your family is affected, visit the school district’s boundary hub. The page has interactive maps with sliders to see the changes.