Students and parents appeal to Olympia School Board to not close schools

 “Why don't we matter to you? I matter to my community,” appealed a”

Third grader during the December 14, 2023 Olympia School District meeting discussing possible school closures.

At a December 14 meeting attended by over a hundred community members, the Olympia School District (OSD) Board voted to begin a 90-day timeline for public comment on its proposed school consolidations, with Madison and McKenny elementary schools being considered for closure.

At the end of the recent meeting’s public comment, Superintendent Patrick Murphy first said that no decisions regarding school consolidation would be finalized at the meeting.

“Tonight, we'll talk about possible school closures, and consolidation is the next part of the agenda as a possible action to address our budget situation,” clarified Murphy. “No action will be taken by the board to close any schools tonight, but we will talk about ones that we might be strongly considering.”

The board discussed the administration's analysis of the revised scenarios discussed during a December 7 . More than four hours into the meeting, the directors raised and voted on a motion to open a 90-day public comment period about the possibility of consolidating schools.  

Directors Darcy Huffman, Scott Cliffthorne, and Hilary Seidel voted in favor of the motion, while directors Maria Flores and newly-sworn District 2 representative Jessica Tourtellotte-Palumbo voted against it.

 Student outcry

 Each commenter had a 60-second time allowance. The public comment portion extended to almost three hours.

Young students commented first in the meeting. Most of them showed their support through raising banners and clapping after their classmates’ comments.

“Some people might not want to be part of a district where people close schools. I believe that you should keep all schools open, and you're most likely going to lose more money than you gain,” said Rye, an LP Brown Elementary School student.

“There are 28 kids in our class. Why don't we matter to you? I matter to my community. This school is my community. I belong here. Don't close LP Brown. No school closures,” said Rory, a third grader from LP Brown.

“If Reeves Middle School is closed, it would displace 371 students and 54 staff members at my school,” Alexander, a Reeves student, said. “I think elected officials should act in an honest and transparent way when they are thinking about things that are going to affect hundreds of children's lives.”

“You're all intelligent people, and I'm confident that you can find a solution to the budget that does not include shutting down the school we call home,” appealed Richie, another Reeves student. 

“You aren't helping anyone in McKenny. So make it better now so the kids can learn and help them learn to be kind and make friends,” said Isidora, an elementary schooler from McKenny.

“I care about McKenny because I feel safe in this school. I have friends and everybody in McKenny elementary. You should not close down schools and make bigger ones. That's just taking kids away from their friends,” appealed another McKenny student, Ariana.

Parents’ concerns

Students, parents, and other community members appealed to the Olympia School District Board to slow down the process of closing schools.

Ryan, a community member, criticized a consolidation process in which students and schools are “pitted against each other.” He also raised the possibility of having homeless individuals inhabit the closed schools.

 “Rather than tearing things down, you can achieve a better outcome if you step back and work with staff, community leaders, and county officials to find ways to build up together,” said Milt Harper, a Fire Commissioner representing Boston Harbor.

“We should not close any schools. We're pitting these schools against each other, these precious children – we got them up here defending their school against the other schools,” Ryan said. “What if a homeless encampment of 50 or 100 people moved into a closed school campus? Imagine the vandalism, damage, and cost the district would need to face.”

A parent of two students with disabilities showed up to highlight the importance of rural community schools that support children with special needs.

“We are speaking to express our concern over the possible closure of our school, which is the center of our rural community. There some comments…about the ability of a school like Boston Harbor to support students with disabilities. We want to tell you that they can, and they do in the most amazing ways,” said Megan, a parent of two special needs children at Boston Harbor Elementary School.

“The proposed school closures are happening on the heels of a worldwide pandemic. Now is not the time to create additional stress for our entire community and our families,” said Brenda, a parent from LP Brown. “Our students are not a classroom, they are not data points, they are not funding dollars—they are children. And behind each one of our children, there is a family, there is a story, and there are emotions.”

“Officials should act in an honest and transparent way when they are thinking about things that are going to affect hundreds of children's lives,” said a student.

Milt Harper, a Boston Harbor parent and Fire Commissioner representing the school, appealed to the board to work with other officials in making decisions.

“If you close Boston Harbor, the consequences on housing development, the tax base, demographics, and voter support are predictable and would be a net loss for the school district people you serve in Thurston County,” said Harper. “Rather than tearing things down, you can achieve a better outcome if you step back and work with staff, community leaders, and county officials to find ways to build up together.”

Reeves Middle School Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) President Shannon Hinchcliffe also requested that the board work with the PTA in finding alternatives to closures.

“As Reeves Middle School PTA, we are asking you to unite with us to look for solutions. The people that are passionate in this room are committed to looking for solutions short of closure. We will work with you,” said Hinchcliffe.

The 90-day public comment period aligns with Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 28A.335.020, wherein the board is required to “adopt a policy regarding school closures which provides for citizen involvement” before it “considers the closure of any school for instructional purposes.”