Parents from dozens of Seattle schools getting ready for boundary changes

SEATTLE -- A lot of work goes into choosing your child's school. Some couples even move to get their kids into the right classroom.

Others like Liza Rankin believes it’s a reasonable expectation to have her two sons attend the same school.

“I want to keep them together if I can,” Rankin said Monday.

Now it’s uncertain if her youngest son can attend Wedgwood Elementary with his older brother.

“On the map there is a tiny rectangle and we happen to live in the middle of it,” Rankin said.

A small section of Rankin’s neighborhood carved out of the Wedgwood Elementary zone now belongs to John Rogers Elementary starting in fall 2017.

“Grandfathering will allow my older son to stay but I will have to apply for open enrollment for my younger son,” Rankin said.

Seattle Public Schools says they do give siblings priority during open enrollment but there is still no guarantee Rankin’s youngest son will get into Wedgwood.

“You are splitting families between more than one school; it’s really hard to have that,” Rankin said.

She’s not alone -- 18 elementary schools and nine middle schools have different school boundaries next year.

Parent Megan Larkin worries about other parents who may still not know about the upcoming changes.

“It’s difficult to navigate through all of this stuff,” Larkin said.

With three new schools set to open and overcrowded classrooms at many schools, parents say they understand why the boundaries have to change.

“I see where they are coming from; capacity issues is a huge thing,” Larkin said.

Many parents say if the state would fully fund public education, there would be less kids shuffled around.

"It’s really, really challenging for the district; I get that. That’s why the state has to fully fund basic education,” Larkin said.

Until then, many parents across the state will find themselves in Rankin’s shoes.

“The logistics and the stress on the family’s schedules, it’s stressful,” Rankin said.

SPS is holding a 6:30 p.m meeting at Ballard HS to talk about the issues. The boundary changes have already been approved but they welcome feedback.