The Mercer Island School District (MISD) Boundary Committee, charged with presenting MISD Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano with a recommendation for new elementary boundaries for the four elementary schools that will determine school placements for students beginning in the 2016-17 school year, has set a public preview of their preliminary recommendation for Dec. 10.

“The Boundary Committee has been hard at work developing new kindergarten-through-fifth-grade boundaries that are consistent with the seven values set by the School Board,” said MISD Chief Finance/Operations Officer Dean Mack, who has served as a technical advisor to the committee. “Now it is time to get input from the full Mercer Island community.”

The public preview will be held in the Islander Middle School library from 5:30-7 p.m. on Dec. 10.

“The public preview is the best opportunity for Mercer Island community members to directly view the work of the Boundary Committee and to share ideas or concerns directly with members,” said Dr. Plano. “Now that the Boundary Committee has a preliminary recommendation, the sooner they receive community input the better, so we are hoping for a robust turnout at this public preview prior to the formal public hearing early next year.”

Community members may also send comments by email to Mack at Dean.Mack@mercerislandschools.org.

The committee consists of 16 members, including each elementary school principal, parent representatives with children at each of the three current elementary schools chosen in concert with each elementary PTA, and community members without children at the elementary level. Mack and Director of Transportation and Emergency Management Todd Kelsay serve as technical advisors to the committee, and consultant Richard Withycombe serves as the facilitator. The committee is scheduled to adopt final recommendations by the end of Feb. 2015.

More information about the Boundary Committee, including meeting minutes, current opportunities for public input, committee values and membership, can be found on the Boundary Committee webpage of MISD website. Weekly construction updates can also be found online at www.mercerislandschools.org/construction.