6883: Closure of Facilities

The District is committed to deep community engagement and equity-driven decision making on issues that impact our community. The District will use the critical criteria outlined in Procedure 0130P (Equity and Accountability) as a guide to define priorities, barriers, and constraints; develop potential solutions; and evaluate the extent to which decisions further equity, inclusion and belonging. The District will proactively seek the needs of our community to guide the community engagement process and to inform the development of any proposal to close, consolidate or repurpose school facilities. This commitment also applies if the District is considering school attendance area boundary changes.

Definitions

Closure: Consistent with RCW 28A.335.020, a closure is when a school facility is closed for instructional purposes

Consolidation: Merging or combining multiple school communities into one or more existing school facilities

Repurposing: When a school facility continues to be used for instructional purposes with a change in the instructional purpose the facility is being used for

Attendance Area Boundary Changes: Altering the geographic attendance areas that reflect what school students will be assigned to based on where they reside.

Considerations

The Superintendent may consider the closure of a school facility, the consolidation of school communities, repurposing of a school facility, or changing attendance area boundaries by providing the Board with a written analysis and proposal that considers the following issues:

1. Projected or actual enrollment declines and the likelihood that they will continue
2. The impacts on students, families, staff, and the community that each school serves
3. The impacts that closure, consolidation, or repurposing will have on other facilities and on the District’s educational program offerings
4. Staff displacement and reassignment
5. Potential for renovation/repurposing
6. Financial factors such as staff and operational costs, and potential revenue from sale or lease of property
7. Transportation of students due to closure, consolidation, or repurposing
8. Safety, health, and accessibility of the school facility

During a ninety-day period following the receipt of a written analysis and proposal for closure, consolidation or repurposing, the Board will conduct one or more hearings to receive testimony on any issues related to the closure, consolidation, or repurposing of a school facility. Each hearing notice will be published once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation that serves the area where the school facility is located and posted on the District website. The last notice will be published at least seven days prior to the hearing. The notice will contain the date, time, place, and purpose of the hearing. Comments received from interested parties will be used for advisory purposes only. The final determination of whether a school facility will be closed, consolidated, or repurposed will be made by the Board.

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Cross References

• 0130 - Equity and Accountability
• 0130P - Equity and Accountability
• 4110 - Community Advisory Groups, Committees, Councils and Task Forces

Legal References

RCW 28A.150.290(2)	State superintendent to make rules and regulations – Unforeseen conditions or actions to be recognized – Paperwork limited
RCW 28A.320.010	Corporate powers
RCW 28A.335.020	School Closures – Policy of citizen involvement required – Summary of effects – Hearings - Notice