About three weeks after Oregon's two largest school districts announced they could close as many as 20 schools between them, opposition is growing. Portland Public Schools has laid out two scenarios, one closing 14 schools and another closing 11, mostly elementary schools plus one middle school. Salem-Keizer Public Schools has proposed closing six elementary schools.
The effects would reach well beyond the buildings on the closure lists. Boundary changes and program moves would touch dozens of campuses and thousands of students. In Portland, either scenario would affect more than 50 of the district's 81 schools and programs. Districts elsewhere, from Oklahoma to New Hampshire, are also announcing closures, while talks have stalled or been postponed in Buffalo, Minneapolis and Miami, as enrollment declines across the country.
Families in both districts have voiced concerns. Portland's Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association released a report finding that schools receiving students with disabilities may lack classroom space and could be more crowded than others. Gina Berce Lipor, a North Portland parent, said families and staff worry the changes "could make things worse for disabled kids." The group has asked the district for more information by Oct. 29.
Salem-Keizer has started its last two board meetings at 4 p.m. to allow more time for public comment. Jilian Getchell, a third grader at Candalaria Elementary, one of the schools proposed to close, asked why a school that lifts students up should be closed. Some Portland parents say they doubt their input will count. Lindsay Boyd, whose child attends Lewis Elementary, called a visit by board chair Eddie Wang and board member Michelle DePass "performative." She is not opposed to closures in principle, but wants a slower, more methodical process.
Gov. Tina Kotek sent a letter earlier this month asking Portland leaders to "take the time" to get closures right. No letter went to Salem-Keizer, but a spokesperson for the governor said Kotek is exploring ways to address the growing statewide situation. State Sen. Christine Drazan, Kotek's opponent in next month's election, said she wants to keep small schools open and find more money for the system.
Neither district expects closures to close its budget gap. Portland projects a $65 million deficit for the coming school year, and Salem-Keizer projects $46 million, assuming state funding stays level. Portland Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong said closing buildings is about concentrating resources, not cutting the deficit. Salem-Keizer Superintendent Andrea Castañeda said delaying closures could mean small elementary schools losing teachers and sharing specialists across sites.
The approaches differ. Salem-Keizer used outside firm FLO Analytics for boundary data and enrollment forecasting, though district staff say it did not shape the closure scenarios. Portland relied on internal data, Portland State University's population research center and an equity audit. McKay Larrabee, a PPS parent and data analyst, argued the district lacks capacity for so many changes at once and should slow down.
Portland school board member Christy Splitt has proposed her own "Scenario D," which would close five schools through mergers and bar closed buildings from becoming charter or private schools. "I can't sleep," Splitt said, adding that doing nothing is not an option. She wants the district to vet the plan for errors, which has not yet happened.
Salem-Keizer's board is set to vote Dec. 8, with boundary adjustments to follow in February if the plan passes. In Portland, Armstrong plans to present a recommendation Nov. 17, with a board vote scheduled for Dec. 15. If both districts proceed, the transition will likely last into 2028.
