Here's how Columbia school boundaries for Russell Boulevard could change for 2024-25
Parents and others with connections to Russell Boulevard Elementary School on Monday viewed options for boundary changes that are necessary to fill an expansion there when the 2024-25 school year starts.
One option would add 59 students from Fairview Elementary School. Another option would add 44 students from Grant and West Boulevard elementary schools.
The student additions are to the north of Russell Boulevard's current boundary, because a new elementary school that will be built to the south will require a boundary change, too, said Karen Jackson, with contractor Wolpert, who prepared the options for Columbia Public Schools.
"The Fairview change improves diversity at Russell, which is one of the least diverse schools," Jackson said. "Option two takes a section of Grant into Russell, which improves neighborhood continuity."
Parent Sarah Whittier, whose daughter, Alice, is in kindergarten, was relieved to learn that they will moving students into and not out of the school.
"It eases my fear," Whittier said. "That was helpful to hear. We love our school."
Mom Nicole Arnet had a more complicated situation. Her 8-year-old daughter is in third grade at Mill Creek Elementary School but had planned to be at Russell Boulevard this year as part of a previous boundary change. Instead, her daughter remained at Mill Creek.
She thought the move might happen in fourth grade, but she didn't want her daughter to have to change schools just to spend only a year there, she said.
"We do know in both options, she will stay at Mill Creek," Arnet said.
Julie White, a third-grade teacher at Russell, stopped in to see how the building will change.
"My interest is just how we're going to change," White said.
She has been at Russell for 15 years, during which time the boundaries have changed two or three times, she said.
"My classroom is in the new addition," White said. "It's nice."
Sarah Cox, whose daughter is in kindergarten at Rock Bridge Elementary School, found out her daughter won't have to change schools.
"I've heard there's going to be movement, I just want to plug into what's happening," Cox said.
With this change as phase one, phases two and three will have a broader impact across the district including which elementary schools feed into middle schools and high schools.
Phase two boundary changes will fill an expansion at Battle Elementary School starting in August 2025, while a new elementary school in southwest Columbia will open in August 2026.
Information sessions for those phases will take place May 7, 8 and 9. On May 7, the sessions will be at the administration building, 1818 Worley St., from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and at Hickman High School from 4 to 7 p.m. The May 8 sessions will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the administration building and from 4 to 7 p.m. at Rock Bridge High School. On May 9, the open house takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. at the administration building and 4 to 7 p.m. at Battle High School.
Approval of Russell Boulevard boundary changes is expected at either the April 18 or May 13 Columbia Board of Education meeting.
Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on X at @rmckinney9.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia parents get look at potential Russell school boundary changes
