SchoolsSaturday, November 14
Olympia's school board votes 4-1 to close McKenny, Madison and LP Brown elementary schools
The Daily Olympia team
The Olympia School District board voted 4-1 Thursday to pass Resolution 689, closing McKenny, Madison and LP Brown elementary schools ahead of the 2027-28 school year. Director Maria Flores cast the one no vote. Nearly 200 people rallied at Madison Elementary before the Nov. 12 meeting.
The Olympia school board voted 4-1 to close three schools
Olympia School District board vote, Nov. 12
4–1
Resolution 689: Authorizing School Closures
Yes 4
- Fullerton
- Lamont
- Seidel
- Tourtellotte-Palumbo
No 1
- Flores
Sources: The Jolt News, The Olympian
View as table
| Member | Seat | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Renee Fullerton | Yes | |
| Gilbert Lamont | Yes | |
| Hilary Seidel | Yes | |
| Jess Tourtellotte-Palumbo | Yes | |
| Maria Flores | No |
Superintendent Patrick Murphy pointed to enrollment and money. Kindergarten classes fell from more than 750 students in 2019 to around 500 in 2026, and KOMO reports the district has lost more than 900 students since 2019.
- Estimated savings: about $3.1 million a year
- Modernization costs avoided: $136 million
- Murphy: elementaries average 300 students; similar districts about 450
Students at each closing school would move to neighboring schools
| Closing school | Students would go to |
|---|---|
| McKenny | Pioneer or Centennial |
| Madison | Roosevelt |
| LP Brown | Hansen or Garfield |
Sources: The Jolt News, KIRO 7 News Seattle, The Olympian
Parents voiced worries about class sizes, commutes, friendships and relationships with teachers. Transition plans for the schools and their staff haven't been released. The closure plan runs in four phases, and the district is already halfway through phase two.
Sources: The Olympian, The Jolt News, KIRO 7 News Seattle, KOMO