Bainbridge school district stops process to potentially close schools

David Nelson, Kitsap Sun
·1 min read

The Bainbridge Island School District has stopped a process to potentially close or consolidate several school buildings, after a budget analysis and recommended reductions brought the district's predicted shortfall down by millions.

The BISD school board approved the plan to halt the process in a unanimous vote Thursday night, recommended by acting Superintendent Amii Thompson, the district announced Friday.

According to a district announcement on Friday, BISD now projects a shortfall for the 2024-25 budget of approximately $500,000 to $1 million, less than the initial estimates of between $3.5 million to $4.5 million, which led the district last fall to begin consideration of closing Ordway Elementary and/or the Commodore Options School and restructuring the makeup at other island schools. Three options had been publicly announced in November, which also included the possibility of reducing staff or instruction.

Additionally, the district said that while enrollment projections show that existing school buildings do have capacity for more students, there would not be enough room to accommodate the classes that would need to be moved by the potential closures or consolidations.

Facility needs at both Ordway and Commodore, built in 1979 and 1958, respectively, will be addressed through potential levy or bond measures as soon as 2025, the district's announcement said, and a committee will be organized to begin planning for any such projects as well as develop a framework to guide any future discussions of school closures or consolidation. A specific committee to address future planning for Eagle Harbor High School, the district's alternative high school model that is housed in the Commodore Options School, will also be created.

The district will continue working to reduce costs to address the anticipated budget shortfall, with discussions planned through May.

This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Plan to close Bainbridge Island schools will stop after board vote