Long Term Planning

The district is beginning an update of its Strategic Plan as Washington prepares to introduce revised learning standards in the 2027-28 school year. Superintendent Murphy described a potential focus on Authentic Learning and Healthy Living, building on the district’s existing Student Outcomes and the work already taking place in OSD schools.

 

This approach would emphasize hands-on and experiential learning, collaboration, student voice, outdoor education, wellness, community partnerships and thoughtful, age-appropriate use of technology. Excellent instruction and strong relationships would remain at the center of the district’s work.

 

Long-term planning helps the Olympia School District make thoughtful decisions about how we serve students today while preparing for the future. As we update our strategic plan, we are considering the learning experiences we want every student to have and how our programs, facilities and resources can best support excellent instruction, strong relationships, student success and responsible stewardship.

 

This work is informed by a range of data, including enrollment forecasts, demographic and housing trends, school capacity and comparisons with other Washington school districts. While our broader community continues to grow, the number of school-aged children and the size of incoming student groups are changing. Enrollment and space needs also vary across schools and grade levels, making it important to examine both districtwide trends and the unique needs of individual school communities.

 

The resources on this page provide a shared foundation for ongoing, transparent conversations about the future of our district. As the long-term planning process moves forward, this page will serve as a central source for new reports, updates, meeting information, community engagement opportunities and other important details. Together, these resources will help our district and community consider how schools, programs and learning environments can continue to evolve in ways that expand opportunities for students, use resources responsibly and reflect our shared priorities.

 

Our long-term plan has three major components:

1. Strategic Plan Update
2. Bond Planning
3. School Closure & Consolidation

 

These are three separate but connected efforts. The strategic plan update, school closure and consolidation, and a bond don’t depend on one another, but they complement each other. We need to constantly revise and update our strategic plan to prepare students for the world of now and tomorrow and give our teachers and staff the best tools to do that; examine how we staff our district and how many schools we run, since that shapes our finances and our ability to invest in classrooms; and invest in our facilities so they’re clean, welcoming and structured to support the learning we’ve identified in our strategic plan.

 

As part of Olympia School District's long-term planning work, we're updating our Strategic Plan to reflect a shared vision built around Authentic Learning and Healthy Living. This update builds on our existing Six Student Outcomes and OSD Core Values — Excellent Instruction and Strong Relationships — while aligning our facilities, resources, and professional learning with the experiences we want every student to have.

 

The resources below offer a closer look at this work:

 

The district’s Long-Range Facilities Master Plan identifies both aging infrastructure needs and opportunities to improve learning environments. Recommendations include flexible and adaptable instructional spaces, expanded career and technical education opportunities, outdoor learning areas, athletic facilities and spaces that better support student wellness, behavioral health and neurodiverse learners.

 

Superintendent Murphy said he intends to convene a community planning committee this winter to explore a potential bond measure for February 9, 2027. The committee would include community members and individuals with experience in previous district planning efforts. A potential bond could address deferred maintenance and safety needs while modernizing schools and creating learning environments designed to serve Olympia students for decades to come.

 

The resources below offer a closer look at this work:

The Olympia School District has formed a Bond Planning Committee to help build upon the District's recent Long Range Facilities Master Planning effort.

 

The committee is a small, collaborative group that will review information, discuss district facility needs, and help evaluate and prioritize potential capital improvement projects for consideration in future school bond measures.

 

Committee members were selected from applicants representing a range of backgrounds, experiences and skills relevant to K-12 construction, engineering, architecture, public finance, long-range facilities planning and school bond planning. Some members also participated in the District's Long Range Facilities Master Planning Committee, providing continuity between the two planning efforts.

 

Meeting Schedule

Committee members will participate in the three meetings listed below, each approximately 90 minutes in length. Should the committee determine that a fourth meeting is needed, an additional meeting will be scheduled. Lunch will be provided.

 

Meeting Dates

• Thursday, August 20: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Thursday, September 17: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Thursday, September 24: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

 

Committee Selection

The application period for the Bond Planning Committee closed on Friday, July 31, 2026. The District appreciates the community members who expressed interest and willingness to contribute their time and expertise to this important planning process.

 

The Bond Planning Committee has now been selected, and its work will begin in August 2026.