BURLINGTON — Burlington-Edison School District will close one of its elementary schools and create a middle school as part of a consolidation plan to address ongoing enrollment and financial challenges.
The school board voted Monday night, Dec. 9 to approve a plan that will change the district’s longtime system of K-8 schools to K-5 schools and a 6-8 middle school. The changes will go into effect for the 2025-26 school year.
The consolidation is expected to save the district $2.7 million, largely due to the elimination of classrooms and the teachers associated with those classes, Superintendent Chris Pearson said at the board meeting. The number of staff who will be let go will be determined next year.
West View School will become an “Early Learning Campus” while Allen Elementary School, Bay View Elementary School and Edison Elementary School will transition from K-8 schools to K-5 schools. Allen will host the district’s K-5 dual language program. Lucille Umbarger Elementary School will transition from a K-8 school to a 6-8 middle school.
Board members were deciding between two options: both included repurposing West View, but the alternate plan would have kept the district’s existing K-8 system in place.
Community members packed the meeting, providing emphatic reasoning for both options. Some noted the usefulness of a middle school to give students a transition period to high school and to allow all students access to the same programs, like music. Others believed the district should stick to the K-8 model that had worked for so long, arguing that it fostered community between grades, and between families and teachers.
Of the 740 responses to a survey the district put out about the two options, just over half of respondents voted for the K-8 model. When separated by school, parents at Edison overwhelmingly voted for the K-8 model. About 65% of staff opted for the 6-8 model.
But the board’s decision came down to money: the plan to just consolidate, without creating a middle school, would have saved the district less money.
Board member Roger Howard said the district has seen a shortfall in state funding of more than $15 million in the last four years, while student enrollment decreased by nearly 450 students over the last seven years. He said “drastic changes” are needed to address the budget.
The district already made $2 million in reductions ahead of the 2024-25 school year, but needs to undertake at least $2.3 million more to avoid being put in binding conditions with the Office of the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Pearson said.
Pearson said he expects the district’s expenditures will increase over the next few years due to collective bargaining agreements and inflation, while it will receive less federal funding.
The vote took place just days after school leaders from all seven Skagit County school districts met with local legislators on Zoom, who told the districts that the state’s challenging budget situation makes it unlikely schools will see a large bump in funding.
Board member Rich Wesen said Monday that the decision was “really challenging” for him, but that he felt it “too risky” to choose the option that would save the district less money.
“I really feel that this district has both the hindsight, the hindsight of the tradition and values of the district, but we also need to have the foresight,” Board member Ken Axelson said. “And the foresight is, where do we want to be five to 10 years from now? Unfortunately, the budget does drive some of those considerations.”
Pearson said families and students will receive communications in January and February about placement and the district’s new boundaries. In March and April, the district will work on reorganizing staffing, and from April to June, the district will put on school tours and help families adjust to their new schools.
“It’s obvious this issue will impact families with children attending our grade schools, and my biggest concern is the impact on the kids,” Howard said. “That bothers me the most.”
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
