Westminster board adopts 'Future Together Forward' plan to redesign, repurpose and close schools

The Westminster Public Schools Board of Education voted on Feb. 24 to adopt the Future Together Forward Initiative (FITFI) committee’s recommendations to redesign, repurpose and close select schools to address sustained district enrollment declines.

Administration presented the plan as a months‑long effort of study, community engagement and data analysis intended to stabilize programming and improve fiscal sustainability while “protecting the student experience,” James Duffy said during the presentation. The proposal includes an adjusted timeline for Westminster Academy for International Studies and a proposed change to the location of Hidden Lake Secondary School.

Why it mattered: district leaders said buildings operating well below capacity create financial inefficiencies and limit the district’s ability to staff and program campuses at the level students need. Administration told the board that consolidation and repurposing are intended to preserve robust programming and expand opportunities over the long term.

What the administration told parents: school leaders said they held two parent sessions on Feb. 23 to address concerns raised at the prior meeting and answered questions about why Harris Park was selected instead of Westie Academy, whether international‑program languages and planned trips would continue, and how families would be placed if schools blend. Administrators said the international focus and planned trips would be preserved for the next two years if families express interest and that already‑planned grade‑level trips would be honored.

On equity and access, administration told families that 86% of the district’s students are minorities and that efforts will be made to ensure all district schools remain accessible. For short‑term placement pressures, administrators said k–6 placements at Uplands would be handled by lottery in the near term because available space is limited, and they pre‑scheduled open houses and individualized visits to help families evaluate options.

Operational concerns raised and responses: parents flagged transportation, fenced playgrounds and an accelerated timeline. Administration said staff are exploring creative transportation options and that playground fencing is on district leadership’s radar to evaluate; they reiterated that students are never left unsupervised on playgrounds. Administrators also explained that an accelerated move was proposed after projections showed some combined school enrollments could be as low as 125–150 students in the short term, making a viable schedule and staffing difficult.

Board reaction and vote: board members acknowledged the difficulty of the decisions and thanked the FITFI committee and community participants. After discussion, a motion to adopt the FITFI recommendations (including the Westminster Academy timeline adjustment and Hidden Lake location change) was seconded and approved by roll call.

What’s next: administration will proceed with the actions described publicly — including open houses, lottery procedures for short‑term placements, transportation planning and further communications with families — and will implement the plan’s timeline as approved by the board.