School Facility Efficiency Review

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Students learning in a classroom

 

School Facility Efficiency Review Committee

The Olympia School District recently conducted a re-examination of its future enrollment expectations, and new forecasting suggests that the district will decline in enrollment in the years to come. As it strives to maintain its high level of service to children and families, the school board is seeking advice from its constituents regarding this challenge.

 

Update December 1, 2023

The Olympia School Board is interested in answering questions from students, staff and community members about possible school closures/consolidations to address an enrollment decline that is projected to continue for at least the next decade. A School Facility Efficiency Review Committee made up of staff, students and community members have grappled with this issue over the past several months.

Please submit your question by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. Questions submitted will be grouped by topic for the board to address at the Thursday, December 7, 2023 board work session.

 

 

 

Scenarios presented at November 2, 2023 board work session in rank order of preference

 

  • #1 (Scenario 3): Middle Schools Convert to 7-8 Grade Configuration – Consolidate: Jefferson Middle School, Reeves Middle School, LP Brown Elementary ES.

  • #2 (Scenario 4): Standard Consolidation of Boston Harbor, LP Brown, McKenny and Jefferson.

  • #3 (Scenario 1): Consultant's Eastside and Westside P-8 Grade Reconfiguration: Consolidate LP Brown, Roosevelt (into the adjacent P-8), Garfield (into the adjacent P-8)

  • “Add Alternate” - Additional Scenario Applicable to All: Consolidate the Large Special Curriculums (Options) into Fewer Buildings (Lincoln, ORLA, Avanti)

 

View the Zoom recording of the November 2 board work session (note that the meeting begins at 00:03:25)

 

 

Next Steps

 

  • Thursday, November 30, 2023: The Olympia School Board has scheduled a work session to review a written analysis of reports and data shared with the School Facility Efficiency Review Committee, as well as additional information directors have requested related to this topic. The work session begins at 6 p.m. and is open to the public. The work session will be held in-person and on Zoom. There is no public comment during board work sessions.

  • Wednesday, December 6, 2023 (4 p.m.): Deadline to submit question (Google Form) on possible OSD school closures or consolidations.

  • Thursday, December 7, 2023: The Olympia School Board has scheduled a work session to continue discussion about school facility efficiency. The work session begins at 6 p.m. and is open to the public. The work session will be held in-person and on Zoom. There is no public comment during work sessions. 

  • Thursday, December 14, 2023: The superintendent will present to the school board during its regular board meeting a recommendation on school facility efficiency, informed by information presented to the committee, as well as student, staff and community input. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in-person and on Zoom.

  • January and February 2024: The school board will hold meetings/public hearings to gather input from students, staff and community members at any school that could potentially be closed based on board action taken on December 14, 2023.

  • Early March 2024: The board is expected to announce a decision about school facility efficiency.

 

 

Committee Background

 

 

Meeting Dates

The committee met eight times (from September 25 -  November 1, 2023). Meeting summaries and related data are posted below:

 

 


Committee Facilitator

Shannon Bingham, of Western Demographics, Inc. based in Colorado and Washington state, will lead and facilitate the school facility efficiency review process. At the June 22, 2023 Olympia School Board meeting, Bingham shared about his experience assisting school districts with this type of work and provided a snapshot of the work ahead in this community. He recently met with district leaders and toured the school district to get a firsthand look at OSD facilities.

 

 

 

Recent Reports/Resources