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Pasco School Board approves attendance‑zone adjustments to ease overcrowding at Columbia River Elementary
Summary
The Pasco School Board unanimously approved a short‑term reassignment of specific new housing developments out of Columbia River Elementary to nearby Franklin STEM and McClintock STEM Elementary schools for the 2026–27 school year to address enrollment pressure and improve transportation efficiency.
The Pasco School Board unanimously approved short‑term attendance‑zone adjustments designed to relieve enrollment pressure at Columbia River Elementary and make better use of capacity at nearby schools.
Superintendent Whitney presented the staff recommendation, saying it was grounded in an obligation “to be proactively managing growth, supporting neighborhood schools, and utilizing district resources efficiently.” Staff proposed reassigning developments 19 and 25 to Franklin STEM Elementary and developments 15, 16, 17, 18, and 33 to McClintock STEM Elementary effective for the 2026–2027 school year.
The recommendation was described as intentionally narrow and limited to new developments that do not yet have resident students; staff emphasized the decision was a short‑term, operational step rather than a full boundary overhaul. Superintendent Whitney said staff reviewed projected enrollment, proximity to schools, transportation impacts, and development patterns in making the recommendation.
A board member moved to approve the recommended adjustments, a second was made, and the board approved the motion on a roll‑call vote with unanimous support. The motion directs staff to implement the reassignments for the upcoming school year and to evaluate an adjacent neighborhood between development 33 and McClintock as part of future boundary analysis.
The board noted that families already seeking exemptions into McClintock would be considered under the district's routine process and that any broader, medium‑ or long‑term boundary changes would require additional analysis and community engagement.
What happens next: the district will implement the reassignment for 2026–27 and continue evaluating adjacent neighborhoods and enrollment trends as part of future planning.
