Portland has put forward two options: one that would close 14 schools and another that would close 11. Most are elementary schools, with one middle school included. Salem-Keizer has proposed closing six elementary schools. Both plans would also bring boundary changes and program relocations, affecting thousands of students and dozens of campuses beyond those slated to close.

The districts say they are responding to declining enrollment and limited resources. But the proposed closures would not erase their projected budget deficits: Portland anticipates a $65 million shortfall for the coming school year, while Salem-Keizer expects a $46 million deficit, assuming state funding remains at its current level.

Portland Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong has said the purpose of closing buildings is not to reduce the deficit, but to concentrate resources as fewer dollars are available. Salem-Keizer Superintendent Andrea Castañeda has warned that delaying closures could mean fewer teachers and counselors at smaller elementary schools, more combined-grade classrooms and specialized staff splitting time between campuses.

Families in both districts have pressed officials for answers at public meetings and listening sessions. Salem-Keizer has begun its two most recent board meetings at 4 p.m. to allow more time for public comment. Some parents say, however, that hearing from them is not the same as changing the plans.

In Portland, the district’s Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association has raised concerns that schools receiving students from closed campuses may lack adequate classroom space and could become more crowded. The group also warned of possible staffing effects. North Portland parent Gina Berce Lipor said students with disabilities already face inequities in outcomes, discipline and resources, and asked the district to develop scenarios that put their needs at the center.

Lewis Elementary parent Lindsay Boyd, whose second-grade child attends a school included in one Portland option, said she supports careful consideration of closures but is concerned about the number of students affected and the pace of the process. She said a visit by board members left her feeling that parents’ concerns were being dismissed. Boyd called for a methodical review that clearly explains what students would gain from any changes.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has urged Portland school leaders to take time to get building closures right. Her office said she is concerned about decisions that could affect students and is reviewing information from districts considering closures. Kotek did not send a similar letter to Salem-Keizer leaders. State Sen. Christine Drazan, her opponent in the next month’s election, has argued for keeping smaller schools open and finding more money for public education.

Portland board member Christy Splitt has proposed a separate option, known as Scenario D. It would merge five pairs or groups of schools, resulting in five closures: Creston with Arleta; Woodmere with Whitman and Lewis; Peninsula and Cesar Chavez’s neighborhood program with Rosa Parks; Irvington with Beverly Cleary; and Buckman with Sunnyside Environmental and Abernethy. Splitt has asked district staff to check her plan for errors. It also calls for a policy barring closed school buildings from becoming charter or private schools.

The process differs between the districts. Salem-Keizer used outside firm FLO Analytics for work related to boundary data and enrollment projections, while district officials say the firm did not develop the closure scenarios. Portland says it relied on internal staff, Portland State University enrollment projections and lessons from an equity audit. A Portland parent and data analyst who has worked on school planning elsewhere has cautioned that the number of proposed changes may exceed the district’s capacity and could disrupt families’ decisions about where to enroll.

Salem-Keizer’s board is scheduled to vote on its proposal Dec. 8, with boundary adjustments expected to move forward in February if the plan passes. In Portland, Armstrong is expected to make a recommendation Nov. 17, followed by a scheduled board vote Dec. 15. If closures proceed, the transition could continue into 2028, overlapping with the state’s legislative session and school budget planning.