School Consolidation
How to get involved
The district is hosting four community listening sessions:
- September 16: Lincoln Elementary, 6:30-8:00 pm
- September 17: Linus Pauling Middle School – Spanish, 6:30-8:00 pm
- September 30: Corvallis High School, 6:30-8:00 pm
- October 8: Cheldelin Middle School (Changed Location, was Linus Pauling Middle School), 6:30-8:00 pm
There will also be public testimony at the following school board meetings:
- September 11, District Office, 6:30 pm
- September 25, District Office, 6:30 pm
- October 16, District Office, 6:30 pm
Emails may be sent to: [email protected], and will reach all Board members as a group.
Letters may be submitted via U.S. mail to: Corvallis School Board, 1555 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, OR 97333.
School Consolidation Initial Recommendation
The recommendation for school consolidation was published as part of the board packet for the September 11, 2025, meeting. This is an initial proposal for consolidation. There are multiple opportunities for community input, ideas, and considerations.
October 8 Listening Session Location Change
Based on community feedback, the session scheduled for October 8 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM will now be held at the Cheldelin Middle School cafeteria. It was previously scheduled to be at Linus Pauling.
September 19, 2025
Innovation Team
The Innovation Team held its first meeting.
- This group is made up of staff from all of our buildings, several school administrators, and school board members.
- Their work will inform how the final consolidation recommendation is implemented and how our district continues to improve academic outcomes, learning experiences, and student engagement.
- At the first meeting, the team discussed their belief in public education, had a dialogue about educational equity, and submitted feedback on topics for future meetings.
Listening Sessions & Recording
The information from all of the community listening sessions is being combined into a report that the school board will review at its October 16th meeting.
We recognize that not everyone can attend a community listening session, and we want to ensure everyone has a chance to provide feedback. To help with this, we have recorded the slides and presentation from the community listening session and provided a link to the survey questions from the sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
The district is actively collecting all of the questions asked about consolidation, including those from the listening sessions, and has created a Consolidation FAQ. This document will be updated each week with new questions and answers.
Previous Updates
Last week, we shared the School Consolidation Initial Recommendation with the community. Since then, we have gotten questions and requests for clarity. Below are a few necessary clarifications.
- The changes outlined in the proposal would begin in the 2026-27 school year.
- Considering the feasibility of two high schools for the 2028-29 school year doesn’t mean changes would happen then. The district would review it at that time.
- Cheldelin’s current 6th and 7th graders will have a choice between attending Corvallis Junior High or returning to Mt. View for 7th and 8th grades.
- The initial proposal has no recommended changes for Franklin, College Hill, or Bridges.
- Based on community interest, the district will decide whether Mt. View becomes a full K-8 school in the 2026-27 school year or gradually phases into it.
- Due to contract language on seniority and layoffs, the district won’t be able to determine specific staffing changes from this proposal until later in the process.
Upcoming Opportunities for Input
Next week are the first opportunities for community input, ideas, and considerations.
- September 16: Lincoln Elementary, 6:30-8:00 pm
- September 17: Linus Pauling Middle School – Spanish, 6:30-8:00 pm
- September 17: Corvallis High School – Drop-in table at Open House for Spanish-speaking families.
We hope you can join one of our listening sessions. If not, you can share your feedback directly with the school board at [email protected] so they can consider it as they make their final decision.
Today, the recommendation for school consolidation was published as part of the board packet for the September 11, 2025, meeting. This is an initial proposal for consolidation. There are multiple opportunities for community input, ideas, and considerations.
We want to recognize that a decision of this magnitude brings with it not only practical implications but also deep emotions and uncertainties for our community. Change, especially when it involves our schools, touches families, students, and staff in very personal ways. As the board carefully reviews these options and listens to feedback, it will be essential to keep that human impact at the center of our work. While these conversations may be difficult, our commitment remains to support our students, staff, and families through every step of this process, and to communicate openly along the way.
Superintendent Ryan Noss and Operations Director Kim Patten recently provided an update on the results from the Long-Range Facilities Planning process, the overall timeline, and the next steps.
The district has now created a recording of this information for staff, students, families, and the community to view.
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
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The district should continue to work with the City of Corvallis to collaborate on housing and community growth.
- 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
- The district is hosting community listening sessions to gather feedback and input on the School Consolidation Initial Recommendation.
- District leadership will continue to provide weekly updates to keep staff, families, students, and the community informed of the consolidation process.
- This consolidation webpage of the district website will be updated regularly and information will be shared regarding the steps outlined in the timeline above.
Contact Us
Contact Us
Corvallis Oregon, 97333
Corvallis Oregon, 97333