Students, parents and staff press Corvallis School Board to rethink consolidation plan

Dozens of community members, including students and school staff, used the board’s public‑comment period to oppose a district consolidation proposal they said would concentrate harm on particular neighborhoods and fail to solve the district’s full budget shortfall.

At the Sept. 25 Corvallis School Board meeting, speakers repeatedly cited a projected $4,000,000 shortfall and said the proposed consolidation would account for roughly $1.87–$2,000,000 in savings while leaving a remaining gap. Student speakers and staff warned the plan would cut programs, reduce library and arts time, and lead to staff reductions; one speaker cited an estimated 11.2 full‑time‑equivalent (FTE) positions tied to the proposal.

Veil Ojivali, a senior at Crescent Valley High School, described the local impact on younger students: “It won’t exist anymore, dummy,” she recounted a fourth‑grader telling her when asked whether Crescent Valley would remain under the plan, and said the consolidation “could not be farther than equitable.” Penelope Saldara Bonson, senior class president and SAFE president, told the board the plan felt rushed and urged the district to address declining elementary enrollment by redrawing boundaries and regulating transfers before closing schools.

Multiple speakers warned the proposal’s effects would ripple to high schools. Kieran Gibson and other student speakers argued consolidating middle‑grade students at fewer sites would prompt transfers and disrupt peer groups. Former staff and community members framed the change as a loss of neighborhood school identity and warned of larger class sizes and program cuts.

Board members asked clarifying questions. Sammy (board member) sought to correct misunderstandings about which schools are under active consideration, saying that his understanding of the proposal “is that Mountain View is not recommended to be K‑8” and that Crescent Valley “never has been under discussion of closure, anytime in‑depth while I’m on the school board.” Board members also confirmed that the consolidation savings cited in slides did not cover the district’s entire projected deficit.

Speakers offered alternatives. The most frequent recommendations were (1) pause the timeline and deepen community engagement, (2) consider redistricting to rebalance enrollment rather than closing schools, and (3) prioritize options that minimize layoffs and preserve electives and library time.

There were no motions or votes during public comment; the board moved on to the next agenda item after closing the comment period.