POULSBO – Poulsbo Middle School is crowded. But it’s Breidablik Elementary students and their parents who are feeling the pressure as a result.

North Kitsap School District officials met with parents Tuesday evening at the Breidablik library to discuss the possibility of reworking boundary lines so that all Breidablik students – not just some, as is now the case – move on to the under-populated Kingston Middle School when they reach sixth grade. The plan drew criticism and alternative ideas. Many families in the affected region — between Pioneer Hill Road and Big Valley Road — have older students already at PMS, or had counted on sending their children to PMS because it is the closer of the two middle schools.

Todd Benson, who has a seventh-grader at PMS and a second-grader and a fifth-grader at Breidablik, is one parent being faced with less-than-favorable options.

“We want to keep our kids in the same school,” Benson said. “There’s a lot of logistical problems with having kids at three different schools.”

The population disparities between PMS and KMS reflect those of Poulsbo and the North End at large. Two years ago, district boundaries were redrawn in anticipation of growth closer to Kingston, but that growth has failed to materialize. Instead, Poulsbo has seen its population increase. School district officials cite “changes in the economy, housing starts and home sales” as the driving forces behind the current situation. Because the area around Breidablik contains the densest population already near the border that divides KMS and PMS, it was chosen as the school to be affected.

“We know that the future of growth in North Kitsap is going to be in and around Poulsbo,” said NKSD Superintendent Rick Jones.

According to PMS Principal Matt Vandeleur, as of Tuesday his school holds 789 students – 89 above official capacity – and is expected to house 804 in the 2009-10 school year unless a solution is devised. Kingston Middle School, on the other hand, has about 680 pupils – 145 below its maximum – and is projected to see a decline to 641 students in the upcoming school year because of a large graduating class. If all Breidablik fifth-graders are sent to KMS instead of PMS for the 2009-10 school year, PMS’s population will decrease by 47 students. Over time, PMS’s student population will continue to shrink, bringing the school closer to ideal numbers.

“We believe we need to start the transition next year, to over time get there,” said Gregg Epperson, executive director of Student Support Services.

Currently, portables are used to create the space needed to accommodate extra bodies at PMS. As a result, PMS has enough overall space, but the school’s infrastructure, or main building, is stressed. The hallways, bathrooms, cafeteria and locker rooms serve more students than they were designed for.

“You have the safety issues,” said Vandeleur, “when you have the crowded lunchrooms and hallways and gym spaces. And it can be wearing on the staff.”

Not everyone at PMS is feeling pinched, though. Tim Eaton, who teaches technical education and coaches wrestling at PMS, sees the full locker rooms as a definite issue, but says the school does not seem overcrowded in other respects.

“We’ve had more students in the past and it’s been fine,” said Eaton. “We’re utilizing the class space we have. Maybe it’s not ideal, but it’s what we have and we love our students.”

Even if the PMS population shrinks, the number of students per class is not likely to be affected. Class sizes vary greatly depending on subject, and according to Shawn Woodward, executive director of Teaching and Learning for the district, teacher-student ratios are not impacted by the overcrowding. Currently, PMS employs one classroom teacher for every 22.7 students.

“We staff according to number of students, not capacity of the building,” Woodward said.

Among the concerns for parents Tuesday was the $13,000 cost for a new bus route planned for bringing Breidablik students to KMS. Many parents expressed the lament that redrawing boundary lines would only be a temporary solution. Some suggested building a new middle school, but administrators stated that such a fix would not actually solve anything, since the only available land is outside of burgeoning Poulsbo, in the North End. One parent suggested splitting up Vinland Elementary students instead, so that some attend PMS and others KMS. Other parents asked for a reprieve for families that already have children at PMS. Administrators said waivers will be available in the future, but made no promises as to who would be eligible for such amnesty.

But even opponents of the new boundaries say they will make the best of whatever situation arises.

“I’d prefer to have my kids together,” said Jennifer Hunter, who has a sixth-grader at PMS and a third-grader at Breidablik. “But if all of Breidablik is going to Kingston, my son would prefer to be with his friends.”

District officials said they would take all suggestions into consideration before a follow-up meeting, which will take place at the Breidablik library at 7 p.m. March 18.

“It’s great that they (district officials) have come to talk with an open mind and open ears,” said Todd Benson. “They’re going to work something out. I’m hopeful.”

To voice concerns prior to the meeting, e-mail boundary@nkschools.org.