Over the past several years, our district has experienced a steady decline in student enrollment. This trend is affecting many communities across the region and presents significant challenges in maintaining multiple school buildings while continuing to provide high-quality educational experiences for all students.
By consolidating schools, we can better allocate our resources, strengthen academic programs, and create a more vibrant learning environment. This transition will allow us to invest more effectively in student support, extracurricular opportunities, and updated facilities.
Our goal is to build a stronger, more sustainable future for our students, families, and staff.
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How the Process Began
Our facilities planning began with careful study and the support of volunteers from both our community and staff. In February 2025, the district launched a comprehensive review of enrollment trends, facility usage, and long-term sustainability, and from the very beginning, we wanted this to be a process shaped by the people it impacts most.
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To guide this work, we invited community members, parents, and staff to serve on two advisory committees: the Community Facilities Advisory Committee and the Staff Facilities Advisory Committee (FAC). These dedicated volunteers have met monthly since February, reviewing data, sharing perspectives, and helping shape thoughtful recommendations for our schools’ future.
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Recommendation Statements
After months of careful planning, community engagement, and committee review, both committees had come up with recommendations on consolidation for the 2026-27 school year.
These recommendations are based on:
- Declining student enrollment
- Operational and educational inefficiencies
- Excess building space across the district
The recommendations are as follows:
- Consider comprehensive strategies to stabilize and grow student enrollment
- Consider adjustments to district structure to create equitable educational experiences for every student
- Consider the operational and educational benefits of shifting grade configurations within the district
- Consider school building consolidation to maximize operational and educational efficiencies, while optimizing resources for student success and well-being
- Consider physical capital improvements to all educational spaces district-wide to align current district curriculum delivery with contemporary learning environment architectural design and best practices.
Elementary Schools:
- Consider closing/idling/repurposing/selling (3) elementary school buildings to maximize operational and educational efficiency within the remaining (4) school buildings
- Consolidation of students and staff in ideal configuration(s) within the remaining (4) school buildings with balanced student enrollment totals.
- Consider the benefits of a dedicated educational center for the district's earliest learners (Examples: 4K, 4K-K, or 4K-1st)
Middle Schools:
- Consider creating a rolling cohort middle school path for all students, creating (1) Middle School serving 5th -6th grade students, and (1) Junior High serving 7th-8th grade students.
- Consider the utilization of the (2) existing middle school buildings in the short term, with the recommendation to study long-term architectural solutions
The final decision will be made by the Board of Education in November
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Thank you, Volunteers!
We are deeply grateful to everyone who gave their time, insight, and passion to this process. Your voices are helping build a stronger, more connected school community.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
As part of the ongoing facilities and consolidation planning process, many families, staff, and community members have shared thoughtful questions and concerns. Below is a summary of the most common topics raised and responses based on where we are in the planning process.
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Why is the district considering a 5–6 and 7–8 grade configuration?
The Facilities Advisory Committees made up of parents, staff, and community members recommended this configuration as a short-term solution to address building capacity, equity of learning environments, and aging infrastructure. This model allows the district to balance enrollment across schools while planning for a long-term solution that could include building updates or new construction.
What will class sizes look like in the 5-6 and 7-8 schools?
Class size targets will remain consistent with current district guidelines. We expect class sizes to remain the same, or even decrease in this model. Our scheduling teams will ensure staffing levels support appropriate student-to-teacher ratios, and that every student continues to receive individualized attention.
What will happen to existing buildings like Lincoln High School and Washington Middle School?
Both facilities are aging and require significant investment. Long-term recommendations may include renovations or new construction. These decisions will be made after a full cost and feasibility study, community input, and board discussion.
Will transportation be provided to all schools under this plan?
Transportation will be a key focus in our next planning phase. The district will work closely with our transportation provider to ensure:
- Routes are efficient and safe,
- Ride times are reasonable, and
- Students who live farther away have equitable access to school.
We will also review the current two-mile radius rule and explore potential adjustments depending on final grade configurations.
How will this plan affect staff?
Any reconfiguration will include a thoughtful staffing plan to ensure stability and support for students. We are committed to open communication, fair processes, and providing opportunities for staff input throughout implementation.
Won’t this mean students move through too many schools?
We understand this concern. The proposed configuration would result in one additional transition for students. Our goal is to minimize disruption by aligning academic programming, student support systems, and schedules across schools. In addition, there are research-based developmental benefits by buffering the grade configuration to a 5-6 and 7-8 concept, while also reducing social transitional stressors.
What will instruction look like at the 5-6 and 7-8 schools?
The 5-6 grade model would blend elements of elementary and middle school instruction. Students would have core teachers for foundational subjects while beginning to experience electives. The structure will emphasize strong relationships, academic rigor, executive functioning skills, and readiness for the middle-level experience through the use of core academic houses. At the 7-8 school, we would move our focus to getting our students ready for high school by offering a robust curriculum that would add elective offerings to enhance student choice.
How will this affect special education services?
Our services:
- Having our students in fewer school buildings allows for more SPED staff in each building, which yields better programming and resources for our students with IEPs.
- Increased programming opportunities in each building increase the ability to meet student needs in their home school, increasing access to the general education school environment, curriculum and peers.
- Implementation of a continuum of services in all settings
- Equitable distribution of students with special needs across buildings
- Appropriate/smaller caseloads for teachers, therapists and related service providers
- Continuity of services for students throughout transitions.
What about CTE (Career and Technical Education) opportunities for middle-level students?
We share the community’s commitment to hands-on, career-connected learning. CTE offerings will continue at the middle-level grades, and we are exploring ways to expand access for both 5-6 and 7-8 students. Equipment and lab investments made in recent years will remain within the CTE department to ensure continued student access.
Will there be changes to extracurriculars or middle school sports?
All students in grades 5-8 will continue to have access to clubs, sports, and extracurricular programs. As part of reconfiguration, we will review scheduling and supervision to ensure students can fully participate.
Enrollment & School Boundaries
How will this affect students who live in rural areas?
We’ve heard the request to re-examine rural attendance boundaries so that students can attend the schools closest to where they live. This will be part of our boundary review process as we move forward.
How will this affect families with multiple children in different grades?
We recognize this could create logistical challenges for some families. The district is reviewing school start and end times to allow for staggered schedules, bus routing efficiencies, and opportunities for families to manage multiple drop-offs more easily.
How will this plan impact taxpayers?
Financial analysis is ongoing. The Facilities Advisory Committee’s recommendations were designed to reduce operating costs over time while improving learning environments. When cost estimates are finalized, they will be shared publicly and discussed at future Board of Education meetings.
What’s next in the process?
The Board of Education will review feedback, financial data, and long-term facility options this fall and winter. Updates will be shared publicly through district newsletters, meetings, and our website. We remain anchored in our traditions and united as Ships, focused on ensuring every student’s voyage to greatness starts here.
How can staff and community members continue to share input?
We welcome ongoing feedback. You can:
- Attend public board meetings,
- Submit comments through the district website and google form
- Your voice helps shape the path forward as we work together to strengthen our schools.
How are days off and professional development time determined?
Professional development days are part of our teachers’ contracts and are essential for training, collaboration, and curriculum planning. However, we understand concerns about midweek days off and will review the calendar to balance staff development needs with family convenience.
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