The Enrollment and Demographics Advisory Committee recommended considering the closure of Sunrise, Moorland, Cottage Lake and Hollywood Hill elementary schools, along with changes to several school boundaries. The proposals are not final decisions.

The district says it has lost nearly 1,400 students since 2020. The committee’s work addresses falling enrollment, particularly at elementary schools, and uneven enrollment among the district’s 22 schools.

At the board’s regular meeting, Moorland parent Liz Edmondson said splitting the school community would be painful. Rachel Van Derhoek, whose daughter attends Moorland, said her own experience with a school closure as a child had a lasting effect and questioned whether the committee had made a sufficient case for closing any school.

Sunrise also drew testimony from former student Rachel Meier, who said the school was a central part of her childhood and that her two sisters attended it as well. Her father, Tony Meier, told the board the property has a deed restriction dating to 1982. He said the restriction raises questions about what would happen to the site if it no longer operated as a school, including whether it would revert to the homeowners association.

Board members acknowledged the emotional weight of possible changes during the study session. The district did not provide further comment when asked about the proposals.

Northshore expects to meet with communities affected by the options from November through February. The board is expected to make a final decision in March 2028.