The Hockinson School District is one of Clark County’s smallest districts. But it’s home to the region’s largest elementary school: Hockinson Heights.
With 916 students, Hockinson Heights has double the average elementary school population in Clark County. The school appears almost like a miniature college campus, with 24 portable classrooms and several smaller buildings circling the main building.
As the school’s population increases further, the district has been assessing its larger facility needs and engaging families about the viability of a bond to build a new school. It’s assembled a facilities planning committee made up of staff, community members and parents, all volunteering their time for the evaluation.
No plans have been made official yet, as district leaders said they remain in the initial phase of the assessment process.
Hockinson, however, purchased a 40-acre parcel last year at the northeast corner of Hockinson Meadows Community Park. Documents included in the sale featured concepts for a new school on its grounds.
Such a construction project would present substantial financial challenges, district Superintendent Steve Marshall said, which is why Hockinson is taking time to make sure community members would support it.
“Overall, we find ourselves caught between the realities of elementary overcrowding and increased construction costs due to current market factors (expensive materials, new energy requirements, etc.),” Marshall said in an email Tuesday. “So communication and community engagement is going to be paramount.”
Overcrowding
Hockinson Heights Principal Meredith Gannon said overcrowding at the school has become a top issue among parents, as 1 in 3 of students spends most of the day in a portable classroom.
“Families have let us know that they’re concerned about students losing valuable instructional time walking between portable classrooms and our buildings,” Gannon said.
In addition to the maze of portable classrooms, another awkward but necessary solution to overcrowding is the school’s lunch schedule. Because the cafeteria can’t fit the entire school’s population, students are divided by grade level into seven different lunch periods, starting as early as 9:50 a.m. and going until 12:40 p.m.
“Leading an elementary school of this size means finding creative ways to make limited spaces work,” Gannon said.
Hockinson isn’t the only district dealing with space issues.
The Ridgefield School District has had to convert several multipurpose spaces into new classrooms as it seeks funding for new school construction projects. The district has failed to pass a bond for such projects six consecutive times since 2019.
Hockinson leaders will continue to consult with families and other community members on how to handle Hockinson Heights’ crowding issues throughout the school year. A third survey was completed just this past week.
“One thing we know for sure — we were aware of this going in and we still are today — is that whatever we do must be sensible, cost-effective, and ensure student safety,” Marshall said.
