School Closure & Consolidation: Information for Families

**Keep up with the status of proposed closures and consolidation, and support our neighboring schools**

Information current as of September 24, 2026

Olympia School District has proposed closing and consolidating McKenny, Madison, and LP Brown elementary schools. No final decision has been made. Pioneer is not proposed for closure, but it is one of the schools that could welcome students from McKenny if the proposal is approved.

TWO THINGS ARE TRUE:

1. We do not want anyone to lose their school community. McKenny, Madison, and LP Brown are places where children, families, and staff know one another and have built something they love. We hear our neighbors speaking out against the proposal, and we want you to know we’re here to support you.

2. If new families join Pioneer, we will welcome them fully. Every child, family, and staff member deserves to feel known, included, and connected here. We know (potentially) joining Pioneer would not erase the loss of a school they love. We’ll listen to what families need and work together to make room for their histories, traditions, and voices in our community.

McKenny and Centennial are our closest neighboring schools, and we’re in communication with both PTAs. We want the schools in our immediate area to stay connected, listen to one another, and support their communities through this process, whatever the board decides.

Here are links to the PTA pages for each school proposed for closure, where you can find more information and ways to support their communities:

Quick summary: What the OSD analysis says about Pioneer

The OSD Policy 6883 Analysis describes what could happen if the school board approves the proposed closures and consolidations. Here are the parts that most directly affect Pioneer:

Some McKenny students would be assigned to Pioneer; others would be assigned to Centennial. The report includes a map showing how McKenny’s current attendance area would be divided. Pages 2 and 7.
Pioneer’s enrollment would grow. Using June 2026 student data, the report shows Pioneer going from 395 to 490 students under the proposed boundaries, an increase of about 95 students for the 2027-28 school year. These are planning figures, and actual enrollment could differ. Pages 3-4.
The district expects to use six additional classrooms at Pioneer. The analysis says Pioneer has space for the projected increase. Families may still have questions about how classrooms and shared spaces would work day to day. Page 18.
Madison’s Transition to Kindergarten program would move to Pioneer. McKenny’s Developmental Preschool and Intensive Preschool programs would move to Garfield. Page 19.
Staffing and resources tied to enrollment would follow students. The report says receiving schools would receive allocations based on their students and needs. It does not provide a final, position-by-position staffing plan for Pioneer. Pages 18 and 20.
The Washington Middle School feeder pattern would stay the same. McKenny, Pioneer, and Centennial already feed into Washington Middle School. Page 12.

These are current school board proposals, not final decisions. We’ll keep gathering questions about what they could mean for students, families, staff, and daily life at Pioneer.

Key OSD Documents

OSD Policy 6883 Analysis (September 2026): The district’s formal analysis of the proposed closures and consolidations.
Superintendent’s letter to the community: An explanation of the proposal, potential transitions, and hearing dates.
Long-Term Planning FAQ: Answers to questions about the proposal and decision process.
OSD School Capacity Worksheet: Enrollment and capacity figures by school, including Pioneer.

What questions do you have?

If you’re a Pioneer family, a McKenny family, or anyone else wondering what this proposal could mean for Pioneer, send us your questions HERE. We’ll compile them, bring them to the people who can answer them, and share what we learn here. When there are questions we can’t answer, we will try to make connections with the right people or resource.

Click HERE for our Q&A document. Our aim is to update the document weekly and as we receive responses.

Prefer to just email? Please email Kelsey: president@pioneerpta.com

Want to speak up?

Share your perspective with the OSD School Board. The current board members are Jess Tourtellotte-Palumbo, Maria Flores, Renee Fullerton, Hilary Seidel, and Gilbert Lamont. Our local school board representative is Renee Fullerton, a Pioneer family alumna and the director for District 3.

Contact the Olympia School Board:

Email all board members: osd-schoolboard@osd.wednet.edu
Call the board office: (360) 596-6114
Learn how to sign up for public comment

If you want to connect with a group advocating against the proposed closures, OSD4ALL is an independent community organization. You can:

Upcoming Events

Sept. 24 at 6:30 pm: Olympia School Board meeting
Sept. 30 at 6:00 pm: LP Brown Pre-Hearing Rally (see below for more info)
Oct. 8 at 6:30 pm: Olympia School Board meeting
Oct.12 at 6:00 pm: Public hearing on the proposed closure of McKenny
Oct.15 at 6:00 pm: Public hearing on the proposed closure of LP Brown
Oct. 19 at 6:00 pm: Public hearing on the proposed closure of Madison
Oct. 22 at 6:30 pm: Olympia School Board meeting
Nov. 12: The board is scheduled to vote on the proposed closures and consolidations