Board weighs moving Community Transitions program back to district property; asks staff to seek options

The Silver Falls School District Board discussed options for relocating the Community Transitions program and gave staff direction to pursue locally feasible options, prioritizing student needs and fiscal responsibility.

District staff described a plan to bring the program back onto district property by renovating the district-owned day care building. Staff estimated roughly $10,000 in bathroom and accessibility upgrades would be needed to make the district site ADA-compliant for students who require Hoyer lifts and wheelchair access. The district currently pays about $3,000 per month to lease space at the Methodist Church; staff said that moving the program back on district property would remove that ongoing lease cost but would require one-time construction work.

Staff also reported they had identified Trinity Lutheran Church as an alternate downtown location and said Trinity had offered a written agreement capping utilities at about $400 per month. The Methodist Church indicated an interest in continuing a relationship but did not provide a firm written rent amount; staff said Methodist representatives delayed communicating their interest for several weeks after the district notified them of lease termination.

Board members and staff reviewed pros and cons. Several board members said being downtown benefits the program because community integration is central to the Community Transitions curriculum; others emphasized stability for students and the risks of additional moves. One board member asked whether staff could seek a counteroffer from the Methodist Church now that Trinity's utility proposal was known. Staff said they would reach back out and that moving would involve about a week of labor for moving and minor classroom painting at the alternative site.

The board did not take a formal vote to change locations. The chair noted the board had "enough direction" and urged staff to proceed with follow up, including reconfirming offers with the Methodist Church and moving ahead with the most student-centered, fiscally responsible option.