In November 2023, the School Board commissioned the Long Range Planning Committee to update the Long Range Plan in light of the 2019 Capital Bond projects completion. This process involves examining school facilities and improvements in response to projected growth and educational program needs.  The Long Range Planning Committee (LRPC) contracted with demographic data analysts FLO Analytics to conduct a 10-year enrollment projection analysis.  Upon receiving the demographic report in July 2024, the LRPC noted the projected continued decline in enrollment, specifically in West Linn.  The question of viability of smaller schools emerged and the LRPC asked staff to provide information regarding factors of small schools.  In August 2024, district staff presented a memo to the LRPC outlining three key consideration factors of small schools. Members of the committee directed district staff to establish a Small Schools Task Force (composed of parent representatives only) to delve deeper into the research and repercussions of smaller schools and to engage the community in order to hear their feedback, experiences and opinions. The Small Schools Task Force meetings and the community engagement forums would be facilitated by an unbiased, professional third-party facilitation group. The SSTF would then report back their findings to the LRPC in December 2024.

• FLO Analytics 10-year enrollment projection analysis is presented to the LRPC.
• LRPC directs district staff to present consideration factors of small schools. 

• District staff provides Memo outlining 3 Consideration Factors related to operating small schools.
• LRPC directs district staff to establish a Small Schools Task Force to further study the consideration factors and to engage the school community in the process, in particular the three smallest schools in West Linn which are 350-or-under and not expected to grow in the next ten years. 

• September 5 - Superintendent sends a letter to the community informing them about the Small Schools Task Force (SSTF) and engagement opportunities for the community.
• September 9 - School Board receives a presentation about LRPC’s direction to staff at Regular Board Meeting
• Small Schools Task Force expected to be formed by the end of September.
• Third-party Consultation Group 3J is identified to facilitate the SSTF’s meetings and community engagement forums, in addition to compiling all feedback and assisting with presentation of findings 

• The SSTF held its first meeting on October 1, 2024
  • October 1 Meeting Agenda
• The SSTF held its second meeting on October 8, 2024
  • October 8 Meeting Agenda
• The SSTF held its third meeting on October 15, 2024
  • October 15 Meeting Agenda
• The SSTF held three Community Engagement Forums on Oct. 22, Oct. 24, or Oct. 30. Input from those forums can be found on the district website. 
• The SSTF held its fourth meeting on October 29, 2024
  • October 29 Meeting Agenda

• The SSTF held two Community Engagement Forums on Nov. 7, Nov. 9, and Nov. 13. Input from those forums can be found on the district website. 
• The SSTF held its fifth meeting on Nov. 12, 2024
  • Nov. 12 Meeting Agenda
• The SSTF held its sixth meeting on Nov. 19, 2024
  • Nov. 19 Meeting Agenda

• The SSTF held its final meeting on Dec. 3, 2024. 
  • Dec. 3 Meeting Agenda
• The completed SSTF Findings Report was presented to the Long Range Planning Committee on Dec. 18, 2024
  • SSTF Findings Report

• The School Board received a staff report regarding Small Schools in West Linn during the Jan. 13 School Board meeting.

• The West Linn-Wilsonville School Board unanimously voted to keep all primary schools in the district open for the 2025-26 school year during the Jan. 27 School Board Meeting. Thank you to the entire community for their participation and patience through the Small Schools process.