Addressing Growth: The Puyallup School District's Ongoing Commitment to Capacity and Utilization

As the Puyallup School District (PSD) continues to experience growth, the need for careful planning and proactive solutions in our schools has never been more critical. PSD is actively addressing these challenges through the School Capacity and Utilization Task Force (SCUT), which reconvened on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at the Kessler Center. This meeting marks a continuation of the task force's vital work for the 2023-2024 school year, focused on ensuring that all students receive the educational opportunities they deserve.

In recent years, PSD has seen an increase in student enrollment that has put pressure on existing school facilities. Current data indicates that many elementary and high schools operate above their permanent classroom capacity. Projections show that all our comprehensive high schools currently exceed our built capacity and are anticipated to exceed capacity, with portables, by 2028. This presents a significant challenge for the district committed to finding practical and innovative solutions.

The task force was re-commissioned by the Board of Directors to continually review and plan for the efficient use of existing sites. By analyzing enrollment trends, demographic shifts, and school capacity, SCUT aims to provide informed recommendations to the Board. The task force's work is essential in maximizing the educational opportunities available to every student in our community.

Understanding the Challenges

Several factors complicate the situation as our schools strive to accommodate more students. Although portable classrooms help alleviate some of the overcrowding, limitations remain. Class size targets restrict the number of students assigned to each class, and the physical space within our school buildings and portable classrooms is finite. Property limitations—such as water and sewer availability, restroom access, and security considerations—also restrict how many portables can be added to any given location.

Addressing these challenges requires urgent, creative action without further bond funding for school construction. The district recognizes that providing the best learning environment for our students is of utmost importance, and SCUT is committed to exploring all possible avenues to achieve this goal.

When planning resources effectively and considering challenges for the long term, it is important to understand two key terms: building capacity and enrollment.

Permanent building capacity is the maximum number of students a school can hold without using temporary structures like portable classrooms. This is like the supply of educational resources.

Enrollment, on the other hand, is the actual number of students attending the school, which is essentially the demand for those resources.

Upcoming Meetings: A Look Ahead

Recognizing the ongoing challenges, the Board of Directors has re-commissioned the School Capacity and Utilization Task Force (SCUT) to build on past efforts.SCUT will provide continuous review and planning to maximize the most efficient use of existing sites and educational opportunities for all students. The task force will also analyze several factors to help provide updated recommendations for the Board. These include:

• Enrollment figures and demographic trends
• Existing school utilization and capacity concerns
• School attendance boundaries
• Locations of districtwide programs
• Student attendance waivers (existing, new, and transfers)
• Alternative housing strategies
• Alternative grade configuration models
• The condition of current buildings and future sustainability

After meeting on October 29, SCUT will convene for two additional key meetings during the 2024-2025 school year to assess and adapt its strategies based on the latest data:

• January 28, 2025: Winter Review—Review current enrollment updates and projections.
• April 22, 2025: Spring Review—Review and updates (if needed) to SCUT recommendations based on updated enrollment and building capacity figures.

Expanding Capacity

The creation of the Bond Advisory Committee (BAC) came as a recommendation from the 2024 School Capacity and Utilization Task Force, which called for a focused effort to expand permanent space for students and reduce the district's reliance on portable buildings. In response, the BAC has taken on the task of assessing the specific needs across Puyallup schools, from high schools like Rogers, Emerald Ridge, Puyallup, and Walker to Glacier View Junior High and multiple elementary schools, including Mt. View, Spinning, Waller Road, and a potential new elementary near Glacier View Junior High and Emerald Ridge High School. This process includes evaluating possible expansions, remodels, replacements, and new construction. To secure additional funding, the BAC explores state-match opportunities for eligible projects and incorporates the 2024 Capital Levy's role in maintenance and future improvements. A key component of the BAC’s work is engaging the community through forums and surveys to ensure local voices shape the recommendations. By reviewing key planning documents, such as the 2021 Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee Long Range Plan and the Capital Facilities Plan, the BAC is further refining priorities and focusing on long-term improvements for district facilities.

School bonds are essential for meeting the district's facility needs, addressing overcrowding and aging infrastructure, and supporting evolving educational standards. Bonds allow the district to modernize facilities, improve safety, and build new schools to support community growth. They also provide funding for innovative, flexible learning spaces that foster collaboration and inquiry-based learning. The 2015 voter-approved bond successfully supported the timely completion of several projects, including Dessie Evans, Pope, Hunt, Firgrove, Sunrise, and Northwood Elementary Schools, with a budget savings of $28 million and an additional $97.2 million earned in state match funds. These savings allowed for further investments in Ballou, Ferrucci, Stahl Junior Highs, and the Kessler Center for Puyallup Digital Learning. Facing a project list exceeding $1 billion, the committee prioritized proposals for a potential bond last Thursday, aiming to maintain the district's tax rate of $4.14 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The final recommendations could lead to a bond measure vote in early 2025, shaping the educational landscape for Puyallup's future.  As the Bond Advisory Committee (BAC) nears its final recommendation deadline, members are prepared to address urgent district needs, such as alleviating school overcrowding, updating aging facilities, and preparing for growth from North Hill to South Hill and other areas. Enrollment Projections and How They Will Influence BAC and SCUT Committee Work

Puyallup School District has deployed more than 200 portable classrooms at schools throughout the district. Tracking the difference between built and available capacity with portables is essential for the Bond Advisory Committee as it reviews current capacity numbers. The BAC aims to ensure that every student has permanent space in our buildings, reducing the need for portable classrooms by recommending voter-approved bond funding. By monitoring this difference, we gain insight into how large our facilities need to accommodate our student population effectively. The School Capacity and Utilization Task Force explicitly analyzes total capacity, including portables. Their objective is to assess how efficiently we are utilizing our existing space and to make informed recommendations based on available capacity to enhance our educational environment.

Important enrollment data underscore the task force's efforts. For a snapshot of projected enrollment numbers compared to actual counts from October 2024 across various schools, please review our website's October 29, 2024 meeting materials at http://www.puyallupsd.org/SCUT. 

As the Puyallup School District navigates these challenges, SCUT remains dedicated to ensuring every student has access to a suitable learning environment. Families are encouraged to stay engaged and informed about the district's efforts and upcoming developments

Learn more

• SCUT meeting materials and upcoming events
• Building capacity and utilization
• 2023-2024 SCUT meeting archive 
• 2024 School Capacity and Utilization Report
• Bond Advisory Committee updates