School Boundary Changes to Be Discussed Tonight

School district superintendent Dr. Steve Kennedy (center) and board member Robert O'Donnell (second from left) join others in looking at maps with proposed school boundary changes. Photo courtesy of MUSD Facebook page

Parents of elementary students in the Menifee Union School District will have one final opportunity to give and receive input on proposed school boundary changes in a public hearing tonight at 6 at Menifee Valley Middle School.

This is the third and final public hearing scheduled by the MUSD Governing Board in preparation for boundary changes necessitated by growth in Menifee and the opening next fall of a new elementary school in the southeast part of the city. In a letter posted on the district website, superintendent Steve Kennedy says the boundary changes are necessary "to avoid overcrowded classrooms and maintain balanced and engaging educational environments for all MUSD students."

None of the three middle schools in the district will be affected by the changes, nor will Ridgemoor Elementary School or Freedom Crest Elementary School.

Two new boundary maps are being considered. After receiving input from residents, MUSD board members will decide which map will be adopted during their March 22 meeting.

In both of the maps being considered, the largest school boundary -- but also the most rural and least populated -- surrounds the site of the new school, currently unnamed and referred to as ES 10. In both maps, those boundaries extend from Old Newport Road on the north to as far south as Keller Road, and from Winchester Road on the east to Menifee Road on the west.

Projected enrollment of ES 10 for the fall is 561, lowest among the five elementary schools east of Interstate 215 in the district. The largest enrollment in that group is projected to be Freedom Crest (811). Most of the differences in the boundaries on the two maps occurs on the west side of the freeway and involves the area that would be covered by Herk Bouris Elementary, the westernmost school in the district.

To view the maps provided on the district website, click here for Map A and here for Map B.

These changes have nothing to do with the proposed third high school in Menifee, which is planned for an area of east Menifee to the north of Scott Road. That falls under the jurisdiction of the Perris Union High School District. At this point, attempts to created a unified school district in Menifee remain in the preliminary stages. In addition, the new high school project remains in need of additional funding.

All residents are invited to tonight's meeting, regardless of where their students may attend. Menifee Valley Middle School is located at 26255 Garbani Road.