A task force to evaluate the siting of schools in the rural areas of King County has been proposed for consideration by the Growth Management Planning Council (GMPC), a countywide planning body that has been working to update the set of growth policies that governs jurisdictions in King County.

The Tahoma School District’s planned fifth elementary site is in a rural area.

The School Siting Task Force would bring together officials from school districts, cities, public health and the county to review rural properties currently owned by school districts and make recommendations for siting schools that are in the best interests of children and taxpayers and that are in compliance with the state Growth Management Act.

“As a lifelong supporter of public education and an advocate for growth management, I believe we can better align city, county and education planning. We need to support each other’s work to create successful schools and healthy communities that promote family involvement,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine, who chairs the GMPC.The proposed task force stems from an agreement between King County, Seattle, Bellevue and the Suburban Cities Association to examine the question of whether sewer lines should continue to be extended into rural areas to accommodate schools that planned for the future by purchasing rural property.

The task force would report its findings to Executive Constantine in February, 2012.

Creation of the task force would come with potential adoption of the King County Countywide Planning Policies, a framework for local comprehensive land use plans under the state Growth Management Act.