It was with interest that I read Susan Stoltzfus’s letter regarding school capacity in Northshore.

I initially shared her concerns regarding grade reconfiguration and how that might impact some of our smaller elementary schools. I was pleased to see the board addressed this concern in adopting resolution 680 at their June board meeting.

This resolution speaks to the overcrowded schools in the northern part of the district. It also recognizes the under-capacity in some of our elementary schools. It goes on to encompass the state Legislature’s revised definition of basic education to include universal full-day kindergarten and K-3 class size reduction. The McCleary ruling makes this mandatory by 2018.

These considerations, individually and collectively, will impact our elementary schools in ways that we cannot foresee at this time, and make talking about school closures possibly premature. Superintendent Larry Francois recommended to the board that school closures not be a part of the current plan to pursue a new high school and grade reconfiguration, but that the possibility of closure should be assessed in the future as circumstances evolve. This makes sense.

A new high school in the north end of the district, along with grade reconfiguration creates a long-term solution to an ever-increasing need.

For more information, visit www.nsd.org.

Please support our schools in the 2014 levy/bond election.

B-Z Davis, Citizens for Northshore Schools co-chair