Fifteen community members selected to help PSD find space to grow

As part of the Puyallup community, we are aware of the rapid growth in the area and the challenges it poses for our schools. As we look towards the future, we're concerned by the data, which indicates that all our elementary and high schools are over our built classroom capacity. PSD projects that our junior highs will exceed our built capacity in 2028. Our schools support more students than we have classrooms for inside our buildings. Although portable buildings are helping to alleviate space issues at many sites, there are several limiting factors that we need to consider, including:

1. State-mandated teacher-to-student ratios limit the seats we can assign to each class.
2. Physical building space, including classrooms in our school buildings and portable classrooms.
3. Property limits to the number of portables we can add to a location, including water, sewer, restroom availability and access, and security.

Without additional Bond or Levy funding for school construction, this issue requires urgent, creative attention and action to provide our students with the best learning environment.

Puyallup School District is actively engaging with the community to address our schools’ space and capacity issues. In April, we asked for your help, and more than 90 students, parents, and community members from across the district volunteered. Fifteen members from that list, representing a diverse cross-section of community members, will participate in 17 meetings over the next year to ensure that all perspectives are represented. 

• Michael McCanna
• Wendy Wright
• Greg Farias
• Maria Finley
• Christopher Harris
• Nicole Helgeson
• Vidal Rojas
• Amy Schweim
• Victoria Treffry
• Jiquanda Nelson
• TBD (PTA)
• Sarah Emily Aunspach (ERHS student)
• Daniel Martinez (ERHS student)
• Harumi Rojas (PHS Student)
• TBD (HS student)

“Serving on the Task Force is important to me as it is a way to use my voice, collaborate with my community, and advocate for our students.  I have participated in local student advocacy for the past five years by serving on the Pope PTA Board and am honored to represent the Puyallup PTA Council on this Task Force,” said Victoria Treffry, “Being a mom, community member, and staff member, I see the impact of overcrowding at our schools. My position at Pope Elementary, Office Secretary/Registrar, gives me a unique perspective on enrollment, building space, and overcrowding.”

Community members will be joined by staff from across the district, including:

• Assist. Superintendent of Equity & Instructional Leadership  
• Assist. Superintendent of Operations and School Support  
• Assist. Superintendent of Business and Support Services
• Executive Director of Equity and Elementary Education  
• Executive Director of Equity and Secondary Education 
• Executive Director of Equity and Special Education 
• Director of Capital Projects
• Director of Facilities Planning  
• Five Principals (3 Elem, JH, and HS) Two PEA representatives  

“The Puyallup School District population is growing.  Passing school bonds is essential in providing the funds to construct new school buildings and replace aging facilities.  It takes three years to design, permit, and construct new school facilities. Considering the continued growth and pressures for existing space, we need to have an honest conversation about what options are available to maintain our ability to provide quality education over the next 5+ years by maximizing the use of existing school space.  The school board recognizes the challenge and approved the charter for the School Capacity and Utilization Task Force to study and report on this topic.” 

Their charter? The Task Force will provide recommendations that support current and projected enrollment, building capacity, and address space issues within existing facilities until future capital projects are funded and constructed. The task force with provide suggestions to the Board of Directors (on Month) and will consider the following:  

• Information developed by the Citizens Facilities Advisory Committee and Capital Facilities Plan https://bit.ly/3qtjBP2 
• Current enrollment projections and demographic reports URL https://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us/cms/one.aspx?pageId=431176 
• School boundary analysis URL https://www.puyallup.k12.wa.us/cms/One.aspx?portalId=141151&pageId=5455428 
• Building capacity analysis, including school facility expansion potential (vis a-vis portables)  
• Location of district-wide programs  
• Residential housing outside of the school district boundary with potential impacts on district facilities  
• Student transfer/waiver management  
• Alternative housing strategies (scheduling)  
• Alternative grade configuration delivery models  
• Transportation cost analysis  
• Equipment and technology  
• Budget analysis (capital and general funds)  
• Outside force analysis (economic climate, etc.)  
• Community resource and alternative housing options  
• Building condition analysis and future building sustainability  

Thursday, June 8, our School Capacity and Utilization Task Force (SCUT) kicked off their work at the Karshner Center in downtown Puyallup. Meeting agendas and notes will be available on our website.

We are excited to collaborate with our community to create innovative, long-lasting solutions to benefit us all. Having room to grow is essential, and we can achieve that together. Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our efforts to improve our schools and make them a better place for our students, staff, and families.