Before the board decides to close any operating school, it shall have prepared a report considering the following:

1. Projected or actual enrollment declines and the likelihood that they will remain permanent,

2. The effect the school closure will have on other facilities and on the district's educational program offering,

3. Potential for alternative use of the facility,

4. Financial considerations in terms of such factors as cost savings, the cost of operating and maintenance, the potential revenue for sale or lease of property, the cost of closure and transferring operations elsewhere, and

5. Impact of safety, health, and fire regulations on closed facility.

During the ninety days before a final decision is made on a school closure, the board shall conduct hearings to receive testimony from the public on any issue related to the closure of any school for instructional purposes.

A separate hearing shall be held for each school which is being considered for closure.

Notices of each hearing shall be published once each week for two consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the area. The last notice of hearing shall be published not later than seven days immediately before the final hearing.

The school district may close a school for emergency reasons as set forth in statute without complying with the public hearing set forth above.

Comments received from public hearings are for advisory purposes only. The final determination of whether a facility shall remain open and what alternative the district shall take shall be made by the board.

Legal Reference:
Corporate Power - RCW 28A.320.010
State Environmental Policy - Act 43.21C
Unforeseen Conditions - RCW 28A.150.290
School Closures -  RCW 28A.335.020
Emergency School Closures - RCW 28A.335.030

Highline School District 401
Adopted by the Board: August 1984
Revised by the Board: 11.95
Classification: Essential