As part of its commitment to safe and equitable learning environments, the School Capacity and Utilization Task Force (SCUT) is participating in a feasibility study at the request of the Puyallup School Board, that could guide future decisions, reshaping the learning experience for hundreds of students. The School Capacity and Utilization Task Force met October 28 at the Karshner Center for its third meeting of the 2025–26 school year. The group continued its review of elementary school capacity, focusing on Spinning Elementary’s facility conditions and exploring alternative housing scenarios for students. 

Focus on Spinning Elementary 

This meeting’s primary goal was to evaluate Spinning Elementary’s facilities and begin developing an alternative housing plan. Spinning’s current building was built in 1935, with additions in 1961 and 1977, it last underwent a full modernization in 1985. Spinning has a building condition score of 40, based on the district’s facility assessment scale, indicating systems nearing or past their useful life. 

Spinning serves 318 students, including Transitional Kindergarten (TK) and QUEST, a highly capable program. Spinning Elementary’s built capacity is 304 students. With four portable classrooms, the total capacity increases to 392.   

Task force members discussed Spinning’s facility challenges, including undersized libraries, cafeterias, and gym spaces; limited visibility and supervision from the main office; and aging infrastructure. These facility challenges directly affect students’ daily learning environments, from crowded lunchrooms to limited space for physical education. The districts 2024 Capital Levy includes $3.12 million  in planned upgrades at Spinning to address HVAC, roofing, security, and accessibility improvements. However, the 2024 Bond Advisory Committee recommended a full replacement of the school to better align the facility with current educational and safety standards; and marking the fifth unsuccessful attempt to fund the replacement of one of our oldest buildings in the Puyallup valley since 2007. 

Purpose and Parameters of the Study 

Brian Devereux, Director of Facilities for the Puyallup School District, emphasized again the importance of maintaining transparency and focusing on data rather than assumptions. “This task force is not being asked to decide whether a school closes,” he said. “Our role is to study the facts, explore what’s possible, and help the Board understand the potential impacts if students need to find another home due to poor building conditions.”   

All work is guided by Board Policy 3130, which emphasizes minimizing student disruption, maintaining neighborhood groupings, balancing enrollment, and ensuring transportation efficiency and safety. 

The task force also noted that students attending schools through a waiver would likely need to reapply for transfers if boundary changes occur and space allows. 

Facts and Considerations 

As part of the feasibility study, the task force reviewed regional data on building capacities, enrollment projections, and available classroom space across nearby schools. The analysis also accounted for special programs such as QUEST (highly capable) and Transitional Kindergarten (TK), which influence available capacity. 

When evaluating potential program relocations, members prioritized: 

• Maintaining regional access to services 
• Preserving student cohort continuity 
• Ensuring equitable access to learning opportunities 

The work completed at the previous meeting for Waller Road Elementary was not reflected in this session’s analysis. For consistency, teams used a classroom capacity assumption of 22 students per room. Groups were instructed to maintain a reserve capacity of 25 students at each school to ensure space is available for neighborhood students who may enroll unexpectedly. Participants emphasized the importance of maintaining feeder patterns to support student connections and smooth transitions. 

During this meeting, Wildwood Elementary (Region 1) was added to the discussion due to its proximity and available space. The task force examined potential capacity at schools within the Kalles feeder pattern, including Shaw Road, Stewart, Meeker, and Kalles. Each site presented unique constraints related to portable classrooms and core facility limitations. 

Emerging Themes 

Several consistent themes surfaced across group discussions: 

• Shaw Road Elementary was repeatedly identified as the primary site to absorb additional enrollment, potentially requiring three to four portables. 
• Three neighborhood areas were commonly proposed to shift to Shaw Road. 
• Two neighborhoods were consistently suggested for relocation to Stewart Elementary. 
• There was strong interest in relocating Transitional Kindergarten and QUEST programs to Maplewood, Wildwood, Meeker, or Shaw Road, depending on space availability and existing program placements. 
• Some groups proposed moving sixth graders from Spinning and Shaw Road to Kalles, with additional portables to support the transition. 

Overall, the conversation focused on balancing capacity, minimizing disruption to feeder patterns, and strategically relocating programs to align facility space with enrollment needs. 

*It is important to note that relocating and setting up a portable classroom at another site costs approximately $350,000 per unit. Portable buildings with restrooms cost about $600,000 each to install. Additional factors to consider include the school’s core facility capacities, such as kitchens, commons areas, gym space, and septic system limitations at certain sites. 

Next Steps 

The task force is evaluating the impacts of three hypothetical scenarios: 

1. An alternative housing plan for Waller Road Elementary only.  
2. An alternative housing plan for Spinning Elementary only.  
3. A combined alternative housing plan addressing both Spinning and Waller Road Elementary Schools.  

This is an exploratory study to inform the School Board of potential effects on enrollment, staffing, families, and transportation. During this meeting, members participated in group exercises to explore neighborhood boundary adjustments and grade-level movement scenarios that could support Spinning’s alternative housing plan. These activities built on previous meeting work, which focused on similar exercises related to Waller Road, under the assumption that only one school would be affected. 

The task force will continue meeting on November 12 and December 2 before presenting its Alternative Housing Feasibility Report to the School Board at a study session on December 12. 

Community members are encouraged to follow the process and review meeting materials at puyallupsd.org/SCUT. 

The district remains committed to providing safe, supportive, and high-quality learning environments while thoughtfully addressing facility and capacity challenges. 

Additional Information

Membership and Meeting Roadmap 

The School Capacity and Utilization Task Force welcomed Meagan Rakoci McDonald, a Waller Road parent representative, as the new Region 3 member. Two membership positions remain open: the Region 2 representative and a third high school representative, ideally from Rogers or Walker High School. 

For more information on SCUT membership and participation, visit puyallupsd.org/SCUT. 
 
Learn more about Building Condition Scores on our website: Understanding Building Conditions Assessments (BCAs): A Key Tool for State Funding | School Construction & Planning News - Puyallup School District 

Learn more about projects approved by the 2024 Capital Levy http://www.puyallupsd.org/levy