LAKEWOOD — With its elementary school configurations possibly heading for a change, the Lakewood School District recently announced that it will be handling kindergarten registration at its district office.
Starting Feb. 16, parents can register their children for both regular and tuition-based kindergarten programs from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday until March 31.
The district currently offers kindergarten at Cougar Creek and Lakewood elementary schools.
But the Board is considering a recommendation to convert its current elementary schools — Cougar Creek, Lakewood and English Crossing — into three kindergarten through fifth-grade buildings.
Because the Board may decide to make that choice, which involves re-drawing its district boundaries, district officials are unable to assign incoming kindergartners to specific schools, said Robin Barker, executive administrative assistant for the Lakewood School District.
That decision could be made at the March 3 Board meeting.
Parents can pick up registration packets at the district office, located at 17110 16th Drive NE, Marysville. Those packets can be completed prior to registration.
Registration for the district’s tuition-based kindergarten will be a first-come, first-serve basis. According to district officials, it is unknown whether there will be a change from the district’s current $250 monthly fee.
To register, parents must bring their child’s original birth certificate, immunization records, proof of residency and two emergency phone numbers.
School officials have said that academics are the driving factor in any school reconfiguration. A boundary review task force could recommend the proposed conversion during the School Board’s Feb. 17 meeting.
Currently, Lakewood students either attend Lakewood Elementary School from kindergarten through second grade and English Crossing from third through fifth grade, or they go to Cougar Creek from kindergarten through fifth grade.
The task force’s recommendation would allow the district to re-draw its boundaries, which would divide its student enrollment into three newly formed K-5 schools. Approximately 330 students would be in each building.
The district has been looking into the change since 2002.
For more information, contact the district office at 360-652-4500.
