Corvallis School District unveils single consolidation plan to address falling enrollment and budget gap

Superintendent Ryan Austin on Thursday presented a single consolidation proposal to the Corvallis School Board aimed at addressing a projected budget shortfall and long‑term enrollment decline. The plan would convert multiple elementary schools to K–6; make Mountain View Elementary a K–8; turn Linus Pauling Middle School into a seventh‑eighth school renamed Corvallis Junior High; and close Sheldon Middle School while keeping its gyms open for community use. Austin said the board would review feasibility of keeping two high schools in 2028–29 or if district high‑school enrollment falls below 2,025 students.

The presentation, led by Austin with finance director Lauren Wolf, facilities director Kim Patton and Byron Betheros (student growth and experience), framed the proposal as a single recommended option the board can accept, modify, or reject. Wolf told the board the model reduces school‑assigned staffing by about 11.28 full‑time equivalent positions (about 2.8% of those assignments) and reduces per‑pupil spending in the modeled allocations by roughly 3.4 percent. The district estimated the consolidation would generate about $1,870,000 in annual savings; staff also…