Citing enrollment declines and high maintenance costs, the Olathe USD 233 School Board accepted a task force recommendation to close five elementary schools and one middle school after the current school year ends. Those schools are: Black Bob Elementary, Heritage Elementary, Scarborough Elementary, Tomahawk Elementary, Walnut Grove Elementary, and Indian Trail Middle School.
Additionally, the Spanish Immersion Program at Black Bob would be moved to Arbor Creek Elementary.
In a public statement available on the district’s website, the USd 233 provided insight on how the schools were chosen in the 18-month-long process of research and discussion among task force members:
“Schools were evaluated using a variety of factors, including enrollment numbers, building capacity, age and condition of facilities, current and future maintenance costs, transportation, location and school programming, among others. No single factor determined whether a school was recommended for closure.”
The district will hold a public hearing September 22ndat 5:30 pm at Olathe South High School. The board has scheduled a vote to shutter the schools at its next meeting on October 1st.
USD 233 expands non-teaching staff
Research available at kansasopengov.org and at KSDE shows that although enrollment at USD 233 has declined by about 2,200 students since 2020, it added 125 managers and 224 other non-teaching positions while cutting teachers.
Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager blames the enrollment decline on lower birth rates and rising housing costs. Ironically, Yeager was bragging about the district’s high property values in 2024 when Olathe and Blue Valley opposed open enrollment. He also blamed the closures on insufficient special education funding, but didn’t explain how the district had enough funding to add almost 350 non-teaching positions while enrollment fell.
Other research available at a-f.kansaspolicy.org, which grades schools on state assessment data and assigns a letter grade much like that of a report card, shows the following grades on the targeted schools: Black Bob – B, Heritage – C, Scarborough – B, Tomahawk – C, Walnut Grove – B, and Indian Trail – D.
USD 233 concluded with an overall statement on the proposed closures:
“We recognize that no amount of data makes the possibility of losing a school community easy.
“This is one of the most difficult decisions our district has faced, and as district leaders we know it is deeply personal for our students, staff and families. It is deeply personal for us, too. We all either have a child who has attended, currently attends or will soon attend our schools.
“At the same time, we have a responsibility to make difficult decisions today that will keep our district financially strong for the students, staff and taxpayers we serve both today and tomorrow.
“As this process continues, we are committed to listening, answering questions and treating every school community with the honesty, respect and care it deserves.”
