Community members held their breath while they waited for Olathe Public Schools to announce the list of schools recommended for closure last night. Tears of grief soon followed.
The district recommended at the Olathe Board of Education meeting Thursday to close five elementary schools and one middle school within the district at the end of this school year. District staff cited declining enrollment, rising home prices and budget pressures from underfunding as reasons for the closures.
Schools include:
- Indian Trail Middle,
- Black Bob Elementary,
- Heritage Elementary,
- Scarborough Elementary,
- Tomahawk Elementary,
- and Walnut Grove Elementary.
The Spanish Immersion program at Black Bob Elementary is recommended to move to Arbor Creek Elementary. The district also states it plans to retain all affected staff members, moving them to similar positions elsewhere in the district.
Watch the district presentation and discussion here. The presentation begins at 15:45.
From a parent
Erin Potter, a parent and employee of Olathe Public Schools, attended Thursday night’s meeting. For her, the news is devastating — she’s the parent of both a Scarborough student and an Indian Trail student.
“Our initial reaction to the closure of Scarborough and Indian Trail was immediate sadness,” Potter said in an email to the Post after the meeting. “The sense of community and professionalism at both schools is unmatched, and if the decision were based on those qualities, neither would be on the list. While we understand the need to consolidate schools, we are deeply saddened by the impact this change will have on these communities.”
Potter’s middle school student has a rare genetic condition, compounding her concerns about transitioning to a new school.
“The school closures are especially concerning for our family, as we have a child with a rare genetic condition who receives special services,” Potter said. “Having to transition to a new middle school after just one year will be a difficult adjustment.”
She’s also the parent of a fourth grader, and the Parent-Teacher Organization president at Scarborough.
“We are also heartbroken that our 4th grade daughter won’t be able to finish elementary school at Scarborough with the community she has known since preschool,” Potter said. “As Scarborough’s PTO President, my priority is making sure our staff and students feel supported and know how deeply the Olathe community cares for them during this final year.”
From the district
According to the district, enrollment peaked at 30,216 students in 2019. The district had 28,140 students as of last school year. The district will conduct the state mandated student count Sept. 21.
District projections show enrollment dropping to just under 26,000 students over the next 15 years — a decrease of about 4,000 students from its peak.
In February, the district shared its plan to address declining enrollment. It started with a 110-person task force, which included one parent and one staff member from each school in the district.
The task force unanimously agreed in June the district needed to reduce the number of elementary schools, with three to four being their recommendation. It also agreed that a middle school should be closed, though three task force members disagreed.
Briarwood Elementary parent Eric Johnson, who sat on the task force, spoke during Thursday’s meeting about the process.
“The process allowed people to challenge the information,” he added, emphasizing the ease of getting additional information and data from the district. “It also had a high degree of open disagreement. People debated, people challenged, people expressed different opinions. There were times where we were just talking back and forth as parents. It was very open. It was very healthy the way that all occurred.
“Having said that, there’s no easy way to make decisions like these, regardless of where you fall on any individual school,” he added. “These decisions are going to be difficult, and they are going to impact people deeply.”
After the task force made its recommendations, a steering committee of 20 people was formed, including people from the task force.
Factors considered by the steering committee include:
- enrollment,
- growth potential,
- building specifics,
- transportation,
- and specialty programs at the school.
They met this summer, discussed different options and landed on the closure recommendations presented Thursday.
What’s next?
Parents, staff and community members will have an opportunity to provide input to the board on the recommendations at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 22 in the Olathe South High School auditorium.
Board action on the recommendations could come in October, said Deputy Superintendent of Organizational Operations Jim McMullen.
After the district confirms what schools will be closed, a committee will meet to discuss boundary adjustments and then make a recommendation in December. Board action on this is anticipated in January 2027.
Once the schools close, McMullen said the plan is to use two of the buildings to house Central and Northview elementary schools while they undergo a knockdown-rebuild. Eventually, the buildings will be sold.
“We are currently looking to secure a broker to assist in selling the properties, should the board move forward with the recommendation,” McMullen said. “We may keep a building for repurposing needs, but really, the commitment to the community is to not have empty buildings sitting in neighborhoods for years to come.”
People wanting to share their feedback with the district ahead of the Sept. 22 meeting can do so here, or click the link at the bottom of the district’s school alignment page.
