CLOSURE OF FACILITIES POLICY

(This policy has been presented to the WLWV School Board for possible adoption. Currently, the WLWV district does not have a facility closure policy in place)

The Board of Education will seek both professional and community advice concerning any contemplated school closures. An advisory committee shall be formed, with membership comprising Board members, appropriate administrative staff, community representatives, and/or professionally-trained experts in evaluating building conditions/use. The committee shall invite public comment especially from the neighborhoods that would be affected by the closing. The Board shall have the Superintendent or Designee prepared a written analysis which considers the following issues:

a) Projected and actual enrollment, and history of requested and actual transfers into the school or out of the school’s attendance area;

b) How the proposed closure will maintain or improve equity of access to schools offering high quality educational choices for all students including those served by special education;

c) Age and physical condition of the building and its operating systems, building capacity, ADA accessibility, cost of operations, potential for renovation, program facilities contained therein, historic value of the building, environmental concerns, and alternative uses of the building;

d) The effect that the proposed closure shall have on other district facilities, continuity and quality of educational and community programs, distance and accessibility of schools, class sizes, quantitative and qualitative measurements of student behavior and achievement, community resources, and transportation options and barriers per ORS 327.043;

e) Feasibility of reassignment of students to other schools in accordance with Board policy on attendance areas;

f) Present and projected adequacy of site, in respect to location access, surrounding development, traffic patterns, and other environmental conditions;

g) Financial considerations in terms of such factors as

1.) Actual cost per student;

2.) Projected overall cost or savings of closure including impact on other schools;

3.) Potential transportation costs to new facilities;

4.) Cost of student and staff reassignment;

5.) Operating and maintenance cost, and capital needs;

6.) Potential revenue from the sale or lease of property;

The report of the advisory committee shall be made during a regular Board meeting or at a public hearing scheduled by the Board. Members of the public shall be informed in advance of the date of such presentation. During a ninety (90) day period following the draft of a written analysis, the Board shall conduct a minimum of two (2) public hearings to receive testimony on any issues related to the closure of a school. Each hearing notice shall be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the District. The last notice shall be published at least seven (7) days prior to the hearing. In addition to the process above, the Board has the authority to close a school building immediately when an unforeseen natural event or mechanical failure causes a facility to become unsafe, unhealthful, inaccessible or inoperable.

Before reaching a decision to close a school building, all options brought to or suggested by the committee will be considered; however, the Board will retain ultimate discretion in determining whether to close any facility.

This policy does not apply to:

A. The temporary closure of any school for renovation/remodeling when students are temporarily relocated to another school;

B. The closure of any school for emergency reasons as stated in OAR 583-030-0059;

C. The closure or change in use of any building or other facility owned by the school district which is currently not being used for instructional purposes.

Legal Reference(s): 

ORS 327.043 

OAR 583-030-0059

ORS 195.110 

ORS 197.295 - 197.314

ORS 332.155 

OAR 581-022-2345

Cross Reference(s): 

IA - Instructional Goals

FB - Facilities Planning

JB - Equal Education Opportunity

JECBB - In-District Student Transfers