Small Schools Task Force. Final Report.

In the spring of 1975 the Eugene (Oregon) school board appointed a task force to make a comprehensive study related to all aspects of possible closure of small schools. Consideration was given to population and enrollment trends; economics; building condition; school size; school design; neighborhood and community implications; program capacity; staffing; alternatives in personnel, support programs, and facilities; and criteria for evaluation of low enrollment schools. Among the group's recommendations were that no elementary school be closed at the time; that the school board set a standard for the amount of non-classroom-space necessary for effective operation of an elementary school; that alternative use of extra space in any of the 31 elementary schools be actively sought; that whenever enrollment at any school drops below 75 percent of program capacity, a committee determine the best use of all parts of that school; that alternative use for buildings be found before any schools are closed; that small neighborhood schools accessible on foot be maintained even at some additional costs, and that when new schools are constructed, buildings be designed for an enrollment of 200 to 350 students. (Author/IRT)