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North Bend SD 13 board outlines reconfiguration plan, new bus contract and emergency equipment
Summary
The North Bend School District board reviewed reconfiguration plans that include shuttle concepts, earlier interdistrict transfer approvals, a new fleet from contractor First Student with seat belts, a FEMA‑type emergency container for campus use, and a stair lift installation at Hillcrest.
The North Bend School District Board of Directors met on Nov. 7 to review the district’s reconfiguration roadmap and related safety and transportation plans as administrators outlined measures they say will ease transitions for families and bolster student safety.
District administration emphasized transportation changes including a proposed shuttle or express route to link the two elementary sites and said a contract with First Student will bring a new fleet of buses equipped with seat belts. “We ordered all the buses with seat belts,” the superintendent said, adding the district chose seat‑belted buses although they are not required, because the feature improves safety and helps students remain seated.
The superintendent also described logistics intended to smooth the reconfiguration: earlier approval of interdistrict transfer (IDT) requests so families can plan sooner — staff reported 33 IDT requests already on file — student visitations scheduled on May 21, and open houses later in May for families to tour the affected campuses.
To address emergency readiness, the district said it will receive a FEMA‑type 5 container on campus around July 15 that includes a generator, radios and 30 days of supplies; the superintendent said installation of a 100‑amp service will be needed and the grant partner has offered up to $10,000 in matching funds for that work.
Board members were told Hillcrest Elementary will receive a stair lift this summer to resolve long‑standing accessibility concerns, and the district plans to hire a moving company to relocate furniture and curriculum materials between buildings during the move to reduce staff impact.
The presentation also covered instructional changes tied to reconfiguration: the district plans to add intervention blocks without increasing staffing by reorganizing teams (for example, separate intervention teams for K–2 and 3–5) and to restore a science specialist for upper elementary grades.
Clinton Herold, a North Bend resident who addressed the board during public comment, criticized parts of the roadmap and financial tradeoffs, alleging the district authorized consultant work while reserves decline. “You have authorized $36,000 just to have consultants research new bus lines while your actual enrollment numbers plummeted to just 1,955 students,” Herold said.
Board members did not take formal votes on the reconfiguration update at the meeting; staff said they will continue communicating developments to families as plans progress.
