RE: Proposed Attendance Area Boundaries Impact on West Woodland Elementary

Dear Seattle Public Schools and School Board

We, the undersigned, have reviewed the proposed school attendance-area boundary assignments that were presented to the public on October 6th. We would like to offer comments and suggestions regarding the southern boundary for the West Woodland Elementary attendance-area.

Here are some goals of the proposed attendance-area boundaries document:

Proximity of students to school
Safe walk zones
Efficiency of school bus routing

In light of these stated goals, we are disappointed that the southern boundary line of West Woodland is just three (3) blocks from the school grounds. The placement of the boundary line at 53rd St. violates all of the above-mentioned objectives. Students living south of West Woodland currently have a short, flat walk of 20 minutes of less to and from the school. It is a safe walk zone that follows residential streets north with lighted crosswalks at Market Street, 6th AVE NW, 8th AVE NW, & 3rd AVE NW. If these same students were to attend BF Day they would be required to walk a long distance and up a steep hill to attend school. Many of these students would have to be bused or driven, counter to the goal of increased efficiency in transportation.

As an alternative, we propose the following:

Move the southern boundary line of West Woodland to 45th street. This would enable families to act more in accordance wit the goals of the proposed assignment plan:

It would put families within an easy walking distance to their neighborhood school.
It would follow a safe, flat and simple walk / bike route.
It would eliminate required busing / driving.
This would build on the local, neighborhood community created in elementary school.

If families are placed within an easy walk route of their school, more parent involvement will occur at school. Families will participate if they can easily walk or bike from home instead of being required to drive.

Many of us currently enjoy a 10 minute walking school bus to West Woodland with our children and some of our neighborhood classmates walking north on 6th AVE NW. It would be deleterious to our community if this short walk and community building activity were not be possible to future students, as would be the case if the proposed boundary line of 53rd street were to be approved. Please move the proposed boundary line to 45th street.