The Highline School Board cleared the way on Jan. 9 for the Burien branch of the Highline West Seattle Mental Health Center to move from one old school site to another.

Center staffers are currently raising money for a transfer from the former Sunny Terrace Elementary building under the Sea-Tac International Airport third runway flight path to the ex-Burien Heights Elementary, former home of the Burien Senior Center.

The senior center is now located at the Burien Community Center, formerly Chelsea Elementary. It is slated to be part of a new Burien Community Center, now in the planning stage.

School board members voted to let the center out of the Sunny Terrace lease early and authorized district officials to negotiate a long-term lease for the Burien Heights location.

The current Burien Heights buildings would be torn down for a new mental health facility.

Not only will be the new center be away from jet noise, it will be close to bus lines on Ambaum Boulevard Southwest.

Burien Heights is located at 1210 S.W. 136th St., next to Vintage Park Apartments.

In a related development, Burien resident Melessa Rogers urged board members to deny an easement request for a road through the Burien Heights site to the proposed Westmark Emerald Pointe condominium development.

She said the condos would be too close to Seahurst Park and would cause damaging silt runoff.

Robert Thorpe, representing Westmark developers, said the developers would provide a road, landscaping and sewer service for the mental health center as part of the project.

Superintendent John Welch said district staffers are waiting for an environmental impact statement on the project before making a decision.

He said developers have an alternative road plan so if the district denies the easement, it would not mean the project would be blocked.

The district will hold a public hearing on the easement request during their Jan. 23 meeting.

Chinook Middle School student Sunshine Fola asked board members not to transfer security officer Mike Castro to another school.

"Officer Mike always has positive things to say to the students," Fola noted.

Parent Doris Celestres said that with a new Chinook principal and other changes, "This is not a good time to move him. It would be one more disruption."

Welch replied that security officers are routinely rotated so that they receive a broader knowledge of the district. However, he promised to review the policy.

Board members also adopted a policy statement on instruction but deferred action on some issues pending further discussion and rewording. These include board approval of instructional materials, principals' discipline policy, and promotion or retention of students.

Administrators outlined the district's three early learning programs for children five and under.

Terri LePenske, executive director of student support services, noted the Greenbridge Early Learning Center will be built across from White Center Heights Elementary. The center will be a hub for services in the North Highline area and is slated to open in 2009.

Nancy Adams, Early Childhood Education Assistance Program (ECEAP) coordinator, said staffers are happy the program has a relocated at the Valley View site. Valley View was closed as an elementary and the students transferred to the new Bow Lake Elementary.

The ECEAP program is the state equivalent of Head Start for pre-school children, according to Adams. She said 126 students attend classes at Valley View while another 36 pre-schoolers provide a lab experience for Exploring Childhood and Teaching Academy at Mt. Rainier High School in Des Moines.

Patty Compton, Early Childhood Special Education coordinator, reported 60 students receive services at Mt. View Elementary, 20 students are enrolled at Gregory Heights Elementary and 60 students attend Valley View.