The Amphi School District Governing Board voted unanimously 5-0 to close four elementary schools, following Superintendent Todd Jaeger's recommendation, despite emotional pleas from parents and community members.
The board decided to shut down Donaldson, Holaway, Nash, and Copper Creek elementary schools during a meeting at Canyon del Oro High School. The closures will take effect at the end of the current school year.
Parent David Morris expressed frustration with the board's decision-making process.
"They've shown us numbers over and over again, throwing their hands up saying these numbers were out of our hands," Morris said. "You guys have been predicting this for decades. I've seen this on my own without any of this research. So I can't imagine that it's a surprise, and if it is a surprise, that's embarrassing; they should be embarrassed."
Many parents felt the board had already made up its mind before hearing public input.
"I'm very upset. I'm emotional about it. It's disheartening. I don't feel like they listened to anything that we had to say," said Copper Creek parent Halley Lowry.
The decision particularly impacts families who live within walking distance of their neighborhood schools. Holaway parent Caitlin Provincio shared how the closure of Holaway Elementary will affect her family's daily routine.
"So we walk to Holloway every morning and every afternoon. We talk about what's happening that day. On the way home, they actually tell me about their day," Provincio said. "And it is a huge, huge loss to no longer be able to walk my kids to school."
Another concern that parent Sharron Lovemore brought up is the transfer and well-being of special needs students, with some being moved to different schools in the district depending on location and resources, instead of being moved to schools with the rest of their peers in general education.
"It's just really one-sided and sad to see for special ed kids who have worked almost their entire life in an isolated class to be able to work with fellow peers," Lovemore said. "I loved working with them, but it's super sad how we have to see them be shoved away to a school that most students won't be transferring to because that's not the feeding schools."
Some parents raised concerns about potential retaliation against staff members who opposed the closures. Michelle Valenzuela, Amphi School District Communications Director, addressed these concerns.
"I'm not aware of anyone being reprimanded and certainly not fired for sharing their concerns in ways that wouldn't violate the governing board policies," Valenzuela said.
Valenzuela explained the district's rationale for the closures, citing the need to maintain educational quality and financial stability.
"The district has been experiencing declines in enrollment for many years, but in the past couple of years, very steep enrollment drops," Valenzuela said. "The number one thing we want to do is make sure that we can provide the excellent educational services that we do for our children in our community way into the future, so consolidating these schools and making a healthier enrollment and school environment is what became the most important thing."
Families affected by the closures will need to transition their children to other schools within the district before the campuses officially shut down at the end of the school year.
"I thought all the crying was done, but apparently it was not," Provincio said. "I fully expect there to be more tears as we continue the school year, as the last school year at Holaway," Provincio said.
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