While new boundary maps for Seattle Public Schools were presented during the School Board workshop on their New Student Assignment Plan November 3rd, the parents of nearly 90 middle school and high school students from West Seattle pay little attention to the controversial migration of those boundary lines. That’s because these students commute by ferry to McMurray Middle School and Vashon High School on Vashon Island. Under the open enrollment law, students are allowed to attend any school where there is room and officially become “non-resident students.” Vashon’s Elementary School, Chautauqua, currently does not accept non-resident students.

Most of these students need to awake by 5:30 a.m. to catch the 6:45 am ferry from Fauntleroy. A school bus awaits them on the Vashon side to transport them to school. School buses return the students to the Vashon dock in time for the 3:25 p.m. ferry back to Fauntleroy.

There is some friction caused by the non-resident student policy. Although the school receives $5,000 per student through the state general education fund, this does not cover the entire cost of the student. This creates property tax levies.

“Off-island students have been assets to the island community,” said Susan Hanson, Vashon High School’s principal for 10 years.

“It allows me to employ more teachers and offer a more varied curriculum,” she said of the added population. “They take part 100-percent in co-curricular sports, theater, and their parents will come over to chaperone at dances and volunteer on committees. We are very proud of them.”

This year 54 West Seattle residents attend Vashon High School. There are an additional 23 from Kitsap County, and one student from Tacoma. The school has 525 students total.

“Non-resident students must have maintained C’s or better, with good attendance, good excuses for any absences, no disciplinary issues, and no involvement with drugs or weapons,” said Hanson. “One of our caveats is they can’t be a threat to the island population.” She added that non-resident students must apply each year.

“In general our non-resident students are positive contributors and bring different perspectives,” said McMurray Middle School Principal Greg Allison. “Over all they are good citizens.”

Of the 40 off-island students who attend McMurray, about 35 are West Seattle residents. There are 370 students total who attend the three-year school.

“Some parents describe McMurray as almost like a private school,” said Allison, who was Vashon High School’s assistant principal from 2000 – 2004 prior to his current position. “Some parents may have had their students in private school, and we are to some a bridge to public school.”

“I think the ferry commute is a big hurdle to get over,” Allison acknowledged. “It’s actually kind of cool that students learn the skill of navigational options. It makes them savvy to learn to use public transportation at a young age. We make it a positive.”

West Seattle residents Jordan and Kim Petram send their14 year-old son Nathaniel to Vashon High School. He had attended Lowell Elementary’s advanced placement program and would have gone on to Washington Middle School for continuity with special programs.

“They have 1500 to 1800 students there,” said Jordan referring to Washington Middle School. “Nathaniel would just disappear in the back of the class. Teachers might not know his name and it would not be a good fit.

“He was taking a math entry test at McMurray while I was there and I saw a student turn to the teacher, Carolyn Zike. She asked how the student’s homework was going and addressed him by his first name. It’s just very small-town. Our younger son, Rohin, is in 3rd grade at Arbor Heights. He is already talking about going to McMurray. He would do fine here in a West Seattle School but may very well go there as well.”

“It’s a pretty close-knit group on the ferry,” said Nathaniel. “And it’s a nice school, a lot of fun. I like how it’s quite a bit smaller than all the schools on this side. I know all the kids by sight.”

“I went to Holy Rosary Middle School,” said Vashon High School freshman Anthony Baker, who lives near Lincoln Park. “I knew I wanted to go to public school because private schools were expensive. Vashon (High School) kind of seemed similar to the school I was going to with its lower school population. I thought I’d give it a try, but I’m still getting used to it. I might look into Sealth next year, especially with its new campus.”

“I like that it’s a small island school,” said Vida Blackmoor, a Vashon junior. But it’s a long commute, going from the bus to the boat to the bus, then back to the bus. I don’t have as much time for homework. That’s one aspect I don’t like.”

“I live near Alki and Admiral,” said Erin Korhumel, a 6th grader at McMurray. “Usually our parents drive or carpool us to the ferry. We all hang out at McMurray. Nobody excludes anybody.”

Korhumel said she has made an effort to maintain friendships on both sides of the pond.

“I also have friends who go to Madison Middle School,” she said. “If you want to stay connected with friends you don’t have to split apart.”