Olympia Families Rally Thursday Ahead of Vote on School Closures

Olympia families are preparing to rally on Thursday as the school board faces a decision regarding the potential closure of three elementary schools.

The proposed consolidation targets Madison, McKenny, and LP Brown elementary schools, a move the district suggests could save approximately $3.1 million annually. This fiscal target comes as the Olympia School District manages a loss of more than 900 students since 2019, KOMO News reported.

For many parents, the math of consolidation doesn’t account for the social and developmental costs to their children. The debate highlights a growing tension between district-level fiscal management and the localized needs of students, particularly those requiring specialized support.

“It is wrong to close three elementary schools,” LP Brown Elementary School parent Katie Marr told KOMO News.

Olympia could delay vote on potential elementary school closures — KOMO News

Marr is among those planning a rally at Madison Elementary School this Thursday. She views the consolidation as a threat to the city's educational system.

“This would be devastating to public education as a whole here in Olympia, and I really hope the board votes no,” Marr said.

Beyond the general impact on the district, some parents are focused on the specific needs of vulnerable learners. Jolene Stanislowski expressed concern that closing LP Brown would strip neurodivergent students of essential social connections and specialized services.

“I know there’s great teachers elsewhere, but I tried a different school, which is also a good school for other kids. It didn’t work for my kid,” Stanislowski said.

Olympia parents rally ahead of vote on 3 school closures — KOMO News

Stanislowski suggested that instead of shuttering buildings, the district should look toward different models of land use and community integration.

“You think about land use and opportunity and what could be, and why shouldn’t this be a space that is expanded to include more?” Stanislowski said.

Some community members believe the district’s focus on school closures ignores deeper administrative issues. Marr suggested that the push for consolidation might be a way to avoid addressing how the district manages its budget.

“I think that’s a deflection from the real problem. OSD administrators have a spending problem,” Marr said.

The district’s leadership argues that the current enrollment numbers make the status quo unsustainable. Superintendent Patrick Murphy has pointed to a drop in student density compared to similar districts.

“We’re operating our elementary schools at an average of 300 students per school. Those districts like us average more around 450,” Murphy said in a recording shared on the district’s YouTube page.

To address the budget gap without closing schools, Murphy recently proposed an alternative plan. That proposal involves cutting school programs and sports and increasing class sizes to manage costs.

The following table illustrates the primary figures driving the current debate within the Olympia School District:

Metric	Current/Reported Value
Estimated annual savings from closures	$3.1 million
Student enrollment loss since 2019	Over 900 students
Average students per school (Olympia)	Approximately 300
Average students per school (Peer districts)	Approximately 450

The decision is not a foregone conclusion, as some board members are pushing for more time to evaluate the long-term consequences. Board director Renee Fullerton has proposed delaying the vote on the consolidations until December.

The school board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

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