School Consolidation

August 13, 2025 School Board Retreat

At the August 13 school board retreat, the school board received the overall facilities recommendations from the Long Range Facilities Planning Committee and next step recommendations from district leadership.

Long Range Facilities Planning Update

The Long Range Facilities Planning Committee met multiple times between April and June to review data and develop recommendations to the superintendent around district facilities.

Key Committee Considerations

1. The committee concluded that the enrollment decline over the next ten years will result in underutilization of our facilities. According to projections, in the school year 28/29, our buildings will be at:
   • 59% utilization at the elementary level
   • 86% utilization at the middle school level
   • 61% utilization at the high school level
   • With utilization district-wide of 65% of enrollment capacity
2. The district’s facilities are in good condition, as represented by the Facilities Conditions Index summary; all buildings were considered good or fair. The district should continue to maintain all buildings to ensure safe learning environments for all.
3. Corvallis School District buildings and properties are important assets for the district and should be retained to ensure flexibility for future enrollment fluctuations and maintain the district’s investments in the land and the 2018 Facilities Improvement Bond.
4. The district should continue to engage with the community to shape next steps for facilities and education in the Corvallis School District, building trust and transparency.
5. The district should continue to work with the City of Corvallis to collaborate on housing and community growth.
6. The district should review intra-district boundaries to support enrollment trends and specialized programs and ensure that resources are distributed equitably between district schools.

We have done school consolidation before: Lessons learned

Operations Director Kim Patten worked for the district the last time we closed schools in 2002. She shared with the board a few lessons learned from that experience:

• There were moments the process felt less like problem-solving, and more divisive, with people and buildings pitted against each other.
• Students adapted quickly, ready to embrace their new school communities.
• When Harding Elementary closed, it became an alternative high school, which is a reminder that loss can open the door to transformation, and that with care and creativity, we can build something great together.
• Our district has grown by learning from the past and engaging deeply with our community. By listening to families and staff, we’ve built stronger schools together.
• We have the opportunity this time to make space for people to be heard and invite folks to imagine something new: fuller, more robust schools with richer programming, continued high-quality staffing, and space for every student to thrive.

Innovation Team

The district is developing an Innovation Team to explore educational programming opportunities that align student interests with future workforce needs. Grounded in equity, their work centers on designing innovative and inclusive learning environments where every student is supported to thrive, discover their potential, and build skills for a changing world. 

District staff who represent our district’s various racial, ethnic, cultural, economic, language, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability aspects will be members of the team.

This group will play an important role in our consolidation work moving forward by:

• Identifying key educational trends to guide future programming and student learning.
• Inviting diverse input from students, families, staff, and the broader community.
• Developing recommendations that promote equity, academic success, and sustainability.
• Considering new models and programs to enhance student engagement and rigor.
• Ensuring all work supports the district’s mission and strategic vision. 

However, its work will extend beyond this process, advising and informing district initiatives over the next several years.

Next Steps

1. The board requested that Superintendent Noss bring forward a proposal for consolidation at the September 11, 2025 school board meeting.
2. District leadership are drafting a communication plan for how to keep staff, families, students, and the community informed  of the consolidation process.
3. This consolidation webpage of the district website will be updated regularly and information will be shared regarding the steps outline in the timeline above.