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USD 253 board votes 6–1 to close Logan Avenue Elementary; district outlines student reassignment and $1.4M estimate
Summary
The USD 253 Board of Education approved Resolution 2026‑7 to close Logan Avenue Elementary at the end of the 2026–27 school year (effective 2027–28), citing declining enrollment and budget pressures; the board outlined reassignment plans and an estimated $1.4 million in savings but acknowledged risks that savings could be redirected.
The USD 253 Board of Education voted 6–1 on April 22 to adopt Resolution 2026‑7 to close Logan Avenue Elementary, citing long‑term declining enrollment and district budget pressures.
Board members and district leaders said the decision follows months of study and a prior public hearing. Administration said legal notice and required procedural steps have been completed and outlined a reassignment plan: students north of South Avenue would be reassigned to William Allen White Elementary and students south of South Avenue would go to Riverside Elementary, with transportation provided as needed.
During debate, board members described the vote as painful but necessary. One board member said closing the building was part of cost‑containment work and a response to broader community economic strains after recent layoffs in the area. A different member noted the district estimates the closure would save about $1.4 million; several trustees urged care to ensure those savings are not absorbed by other budget lines.
Board members also placed the district’s enrollment challenges in a statewide context: a trustee said 187 Kansas school districts experienced declining enrollment in the 2025 school year and raised concerns about special‑education funding, saying the district covers more than $5 million in special‑education costs the state does not fund.
The motion to adopt Resolution 2026‑7 was moved and seconded and passed 6–1. The resolution sets the effective closure at the end of the 2026–27 school year so that students would be reassigned for the 2027–28 year. The mover and seconder spoke to the difficulty of the choice; one said they would “remorsefully” second the motion.
Board members and administrators said the district will work to minimize disruption: staff said transition activities, celebrations, and logistical planning would occur over the coming year. Trustees also stressed that the decision is not a judgment on Logan Avenue’s staff, students or community, and several members thanked teachers and families for their work.
The board also discussed risks cited by board members: examples included the possibility that a closed building could later require conversion costs if district needs change, and that promised savings could be reduced if funds are redirected elsewhere. Trustees said they will seek transparency on how savings are captured and applied.
The vote and the reassignment plan followed a period of public outreach and a prior public hearing. The board’s resolution number is recorded in the minutes as Resolution 2026‑7.
