Vancouver residents are voicing strong opposition to the Evergreen Public Schools district’s tentative plan to close a handful of elementary schools. At a recent school‑board meeting, longtime community members warned that shuttering neighborhood schools would disrupt families and erode the fabric of their neighborhoods.
Grandparents and parents speak out
Barney Early, a grandfather who has watched generations of his family attend Hearthwood Elementary, told the board, “Our kids went here and now our grandkids go here. It’s been here for as long as I’ve been here.” He worries the school could be lost, adding, “I don’t think it’s a good idea. If they spent our tax money a little better, we could afford to keep it open.”
Laurie and Joseph Arndt, co‑chairs of the Riverview neighborhood association, echoed the sentiment. Their children attended Riverview Elementary, and the couple testified that closing the school would fundamentally change the community they have called home for 47 years. “This is a really wonderful school,” Laurie said. “The staff, teachers, and PTO are all involved. It’s an inclusive school. The kids are happy here. It would be a real shame to close this school.”
District cites enrollment decline and budget shortfalls
Evergreen officials explain that declining enrollment – driven by falling birth rates and high housing costs that push young families out of Vancouver – has left the district with roughly 5,000 fewer students than in 2017. Because state funding follows the student, the district reported a loss of more than $5 million from last year to this year.
The district’s list of schools under review includes Hearthwood, Riverview, Fircrest, Silver Star and Sunset Elementary, as well as Pacific Middle School. Administrators stressed that no final decisions have been made and the list could change. They also noted that the board will vote on whether to move forward with any closures in early December, with a final decision expected in March.
Community concerns about transportation and neighborhood stability
Residents warned that school closures could force children onto buses for longer distances, making neighborhoods less attractive to prospective families. “Nobody is going to want to move to a neighborhood where the children are going to be bused automatically because there’s no school for them to attend,” the Arndts said.
Unlike neighboring districts such as Portland Public Schools and Salem‑Keizer Public Schools, Evergreen has not yet released a formal closure proposal, opting instead to gather information and hear public input before taking further steps.
What’s next?
The school board’s upcoming December vote will determine whether the district proceeds with a detailed closure study. If the board decides to move forward, the community can expect more public hearings before any school is officially closed. Until then, families like the Earlys and the Arndts remain hopeful that the district will find alternative ways to address budget shortfalls without sacrificing local schools.
Original reporting: KPTV FOX 12 Portland (news) — read the source article.
