The Columbia public school’s board of education voted at last nights meeting to approve boundary changes for elementary schools. The approved changes come in response to the building of a new elementary school, Beulah Ralph, which is set to open at the start of the 2016 school year.
The school’s a part of the new boundary plan include Fairview, Grant, Mill Creek, Paxton Keeley, Rock Bridge, and Russell Boulevard.
According to Columbia public school’s superintendent Dr. Peter Steipleman the adjustment was necessary to make way for the expanding community.
“This community continues to grow, were going to see incredible growth where we open up another school ugh in 2018 and an early childhood center in 2017 and our goal is to open up a middle school in 2019,” said Steipleman.
During the meeting Steipleman said the new boundaries will help prevent overcrowding enough to eliminate seven trailers at Mill Creek and four at Russell Boulevard.
Though the board favored the new boundaries some Columbia parents did not approve of the plans, as it would prevent kids from walking to school.
Newly instated Columbia education board president James Whitt was pleased with the outcome and the work of the committee.
“The committees put in a lot of effort and a lot of hard work in making that recommendation to us, we asked our questions as a board and they’ve come back and given us the answers that we want and we were satisfied to go ahead and approve that recommendation,” said Whitt.
The changes will become effective at the start of the 2016-17 school year, when Beulah Ralph opens.