Salem‑Keizer Public Schools has placed six elementary schools, including Cummings Elementary in Keizer, on a list for possible closure in 2027. The proposal will be open for public comment for two months before the school board votes in December.
Families feel the loss like a death in the community
Kevin Jackson gathered his four children Saturday morning to explain that this could be their last year at Cummings. “It pulled on our heartstrings. It was a very hard conversation,” Jackson said, noting that his two children with Individualized Education Plans rely on the school’s familiar staff.
Jenna Li, president of Liberty Elementary’s Parent‑Teacher Club, described the news as “feeling like someone died” and likened the school to a loved one the neighborhood is now grieving.
Impact on students and neighborhoods
District officials estimate 1,392 students will be directly affected. Parents worry about larger class sizes, longer bus rides and the loss of tight‑knit community bonds. “Moving kids into a bigger school with larger staff ratios, you’re gonna have failures and kids that get left behind,” said Jonica Thomas, who chose Brush College’s small neighborhood school for her children.
Thomas highlighted that Brush serves fewer than 260 children, while the alternative, Kalapuya Elementary, can accommodate 600. The increased distance—about 0.9 miles beyond the walking zone—raises safety concerns due to inadequate sidewalks.
Academic concerns
Parents of Candalaria, a top‑performing elementary school, fear a drop in academic quality. The school’s third‑grade reading proficiency is 25 % higher than that of Salem Heights, the school slated to receive Candalaria’s students.
Superintendent Andrea Castañeda emphasized that “schools are much more than absolute proficiency,” noting that the board’s criteria did not prioritize test scores. Nevertheless, parents like Troy Hickman argue that educational outcomes should be a key factor.
Community response and next steps
Parents have launched petitions, organized meetings and plan to speak at upcoming board hearings. Monique Gallaher, vice president of the Cummings PTA, urged the district to consider the broader impact on families and neighborhoods.
“We hope the Salem‑Keizer School District can recognize that there are more important factors in this decision than money or optimization,” Gallaher wrote.
The district will accept public comments until early November, after which the board will vote in December. The outcome will shape the future of neighborhood schools that many families view as the heart of their communities.
Original reporting: Salem Reporter — read the source article.
