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, will hold a public hearing of their final recommendation Wednesday, Feb. 4 at Islander Middle School.

“Over the past four months, the Boundary Committee has been hard at work developing new kindergarten through fifth-grade boundaries consistent with the values set by the School Board and the needs of the Mercer Island community,” said MISD Chief Finance/Operations Officer Dean Mack, who has served as a technical advisor to the committee. “The Boundary Committee has received a great amount of community input during this process, both online and at the public preview in December.”

“The public hearing on Feb. 4 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.

The public hearing will be held in the Islander Middle School library from 6-7 p.m. The recommendation by the Boundary Committee can be found on the MISD website. Community members may send comments by email to CFO/COO Mack at dean.mack@mercerislandschools.org.

The committee consists of 16 members, including each elementary school principal, parent representatives with children at each elementary school 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 the final recommendation to Dr. Plano 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.