Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools presents plan to close one elementary, move district office and redraw boundaries

Board Chair White and district staff presented a proposal Thursday to consolidate facilities, including closing Westwood Elementary as a neighborhood school, relocating the District Services Center (DSC) into Greenwood, and marketing the current DSC property for sale.

The proposal, presented as a first draft, would be used to reduce structural costs so the district can meet an estimated $4 million in additional reductions the administration says will be required for the 2026–27 school year if state funding does not change. Chair White asked administration to delay any vote until a July board meeting so staff could answer questions and vet boundary and staffing consequences.

Superintendent Thomas said the district has run “a very lean system” and is facing a mix of factors — flat enrollment, state underfunded mandates and local revenue shortfalls — that together are creating the budget pressure. “This is a very challenging conversation that we have to engage in,” Thomas said, adding that staff will bring vetted recommendations and are not seeking action at the work session.

Director Powers, who led the facility analysis, said staff examined multiple scenarios and identified Westwood as the most feasible neighborhood school to remove from the elementary rotation because it has the lowest projected enrollment and does not house the district’s Spanish-immersion program. Powers described Greenwood as structurally easier to adapt for combined district office,…