New boundary lines for Mill Creek Elementary

New boundary changes have been drawn up Thursday for a Columbia elementary school.

Overcrowding at Mill Creek Elementary has been a problem for a couple of years now.

Last month the new boundary changes were finalized and the school district was planning to move more than 100 students to others schools.

Thursday those boundary lines have changed due to a counting mistake.

“I am so sorry to ask you to do this this morning. I know when you approved a boundary you expected us to get it right,” said Dr. Peter Stiepleman addressing the school board.

Changes are needed again to make sure that Paxton Keeley Elementary does not become overcrowded like Mill Creek.

Thursday the plan is to move 30 Mill Creek students to Russell, 30 to Grant, and 60 to Paxton Keeley Elementary.

That was the plan all along.

“We have to make a decision with the numbers we have before us,” said Columbia Public School Board President, Christine King.

Somehow with the mishap in counting they were going to be sending 100 students to Paxton Keeley.

The problem has been solved Thursday with the approval of new boundary lines.

Forty-four students that live on Bellview and Bethany Drive will be able to now stay at Mill Creek.

“We’re embarrassed because we should have gotten it right the first time. There was a solution that really wasn’t too difficult we just carved out a neighborhood that we shouldn’t have put in the first place. We know that its emotional to families,” said Superintendent Chris Belcher.

The school board plans to send out official letters to parents in the next few weeks with the school their child will be moved to.