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Schools for the blind, deaf fight consolidation | StatesmanJournal.com | Statesman Journal

Officials at Oregon School for the Deaf will challenge a state effort to sell Oregon School for the Blind's land and locate the school on its campus.

The decision Friday came a week after School for the Blind officials also voted to challenge the state's effort.

School for the Deaf board members said they want to increase outreach efforts and find a way for students to enroll in the school earlier in their educational careers, instead of as a last option.

"We're trying to change that," Board Chair John Babbitt said. "If we're successful in changing that, then OSD is going to grow and co-location is going to be a problem for us."

An estimated 1,194 people in Oregon, from newborns to 21-year-olds, are deaf or hard of hearing. About 10 percent, or 121, attend School for the Deaf.

Officials will appeal to the state Board of Education, which may uphold, modify or overturn a decision by State Schools Superintendent Susan Castillo.

Castillo this month announced her decision to pursue legislation to allow money from the land's sale to pay for improvements and new facilities on the School for the Deaf's campus to accommodate both schools.

The effort comes in part from declining enrollment and rising per-student costs at each school.

Yet why enrollment is declining and efforts to reverse that have not been fully addressed, School for the Deaf officials said Friday.

The eight-acre School for the Blind property is at 700 Church St. SE, near Salem Hospital. It was appraised at $9.1 million but could be worth twice that, state officials have said.

The land's sale would finance needed building repairs and improvements to withstand earthquakes better, and new facilities at OSD's campus. The School for the Deaf sits on 52 acres in northeast Salem at 999 Locust St. NE.

The plan also would allow some operations to consolidate, such as the cafeteria and grounds keeping, saving $1 million to $1.5 million every two years, said Morgan Allen, legislative director for the state education department.

The combined cost to operate the schools is $25 million per two-year budget period.

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