Parents voice their opinions on options for elementary, middle and high school boundaries

Parents on Tuesday were ready with their opinions as Columbia Public Schools held its first listening session on five options for boundary changes for elementary, middle and high schools.

A survey on the five options is open until 5:30 p.m. May 12.

Here is some basic information about the options:

• Option 1 would move 1,180 elementary students, 572 middle school students and 677 high school students by the 2026-27 school year.

• Option 2 moves 1,109 elementary students, 438 middle school students and 447 high school students.

• Option 3 would move 1,362 elementary students, 1,160 middle school students and 588 high school students.

• Option 4 would result in moving 1,543 elementary students, 390 middle school students and 368 high school students.

• Option 5 would place 2,275 elementary students in new schools, 910 middle school students and 422 high school students.

Many of the parents at the CPS administration building on Tuesday clearly had studied the options in advance.

Option 3 is a 'no" for Grant Elementary School parent Kristin Hill.

"Burn option 3," Hill told Columbia Board of Education President Suzette Waters.

Option 4 maintains a walkable route for Grant students, with future transitions also walkable or bikeable, she said.

She noted the quandary that her least favored option is most favored by others, but said she has to advocate for the best interests of her children.

"Its so very difficult for families," Hill said of changing their children's schools.

Some of the options try to achieve walkability, while others focused on improving diversity and others try to accomplish some of both, said Randy Gooch, CPS chief operations officer, talking with parents.

"There's not any one option that's going to accomplish all of those," Gooch said.

Options that send young drivers across Interstate 70 and U.S. Highway 63 as construction is taking place is not a good plan, said parent Chris Pieper.

"Options 1, 4 and 5 are going to be a nightmare," Pieper said.

He has a child at Jefferson Middle School who will attend Hickman next year. He has another child also at Jefferson Middle School and his youngest is a fifth-grader at Shepard Boulevard Elementary School.

The changes have been unfair to some, Pieper said.

"This process has picked on neighborhoods in central Columbia," Pieper said.

The safety concerns were echoed by parent Beth Marchbanks at another table.

"I think that will be a strong consideration," Gooch said in an interview. "It's a very legitimate concern. After the survey, we'll probably be able to weed a few of those options out."

Parents Fran and Rob Patrick were reassured by the session, they said. Their child is at Russell Boulevard Elementary School and won't be affected by any of the options.

"Our concern is what does the future for him look like," Fran Patrick said.

They wanted to have their pulse on what's planned, she said.

"At least we know," Rob Patrick said.

The district's Long Range Planning Committee will discuss the options and feedback at 5:30 p.m. June 5 at the CPS administration building.

The full Columbia Board of Education will have a first read on the boundary changes at its June 10 meeting, with a vote likely on July 8.

The changes will take place in 2025-26 when an addition at Battle Elementary School opens and in 2026-27 when a new elementary school opens.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com. He's on X at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Boundaries for elementary, middle and high schools to be adjusted