School board narrows consolidation options; administration to flesh out logistics for two high‑school models

District staff presented five draft school consolidation and boundary plans Tuesday and asked the board to narrow its choices so administrators can produce detailed staffing, transportation and accessibility plans. The discussion covered proposed feeder patterns, potential building closures, early‑learning site locations and the likely effects on free‑and‑reduced lunch counts.

The plans would reduce the district's number of school sites by repurposing or closing selected elementary and middle schools and combining some high school campuses. Administration described the options as "proof of concept" and repeatedly said nothing is final until the board gives direction and more data are collected.

Board members and staff framed the issue as both a financial and long‑range facility question. A staff member said the district must carve out roughly $8 million over the next few years to restore reserves, and that consolidation is one path to get there. "Doing some sort of consolidation is going to definitely get us there," the staff member said. Several board members said they wanted administration to prioritize options 4a, 4b and…