Should R.C. Garnett Elementary become a K-5 school starting this September, with the Grade 6 and 7 classes moved over to Lynn Fripps Elementary?

That's one of the ideas being proposed by the Langley School District to cope with overcrowding at the Willoughby area school.

Garnett was built for 350 students, and now has more than 500.

The district has scheduled a meeting at the school, 7096 201 St., for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., to discuss options.

The suggestion has parent Christy McLeod concerned that her two children won't complete elementary school at Garnett, where they started Kindergarten.

She said Fripps will start out with about 200 students, Grades K-7, shy of its capacity of more than 400.

"The school board is now trying to make the new school look 'full' by using our children to fill it," she said.

The proposed reconfiguration of the two elementary schools could fit in with a middle school - not yet approved by the Ministry of Education - that the school district would like to add to the Willoughby Slope.

A letter was sent home with parents outlining some of the options, and with an apology for the current overcrowding.

"We would also like to extend our apologies for any upset you may be feeling," wrote Claire Guy, the district director of instruction, "and pledge to work closely with your school community on the solutions which offer the best educational environment for your children."

District enrolment projections indicate there will be more pressure on Garnett. An anticipated additional 57 students will require up to three more classrooms.

Suggestions for dealing with the crowding include boundary changes (with a grandfather clause allowing current students to remain in Garnett), adding portables, relocating kindergarten, or moving Grade 6 and 7 students).

Guy said additional portables likely won't be allowed by the province, since there is room nearby at Fripps Elementary. She said there are too many portables on the site already.

As well, the discussions will include whether to restrict enrolment to students living in the school catchment area. There are 150 students at the school who live outside that boundary.

Guy said such a restriction would not "reflect the spirit of community" at Garnett, is also outside current district policies which allow students to attend schools across catchment boundaries.

The Wednesday meeting is for Garnett families and those living in the school catchment area, explained Sandy Wakeling, the district communications manager. "We expect a full house with just those people."

Wakeling said the whole Willoughby area will be addressed at a future a meeting.