The Amphitheater (Arizona) school board has voted unanimously to close four elementary schools despite emotional pleas from parents and community members.
KGUN-TV reports that the board followed Superintendent Todd Jaeger's recommendation and decided to shut down Donaldson, Holaway, Nash, and Copper Creek elementary schools. The closures will take effect at the end of the 2025-26 school year.
Jaeger's recommendation stated that "a convergence of historic demographic shifts and legislative changes has created a critical need for 'right-sizing' our district to ensure long-term fiscal stability and the continued delivery of high-quality educational programs."
Many parents felt the board had already made up its mind before hearing public input.
"I'm very upset," said Copper Creek parent Halley Lowry. "I'm emotional about it. It's disheartening. I don't feel like they listened to anything that we had to say."
Michelle Valenzuela, the district's communications director, elaborated on the district's rationale for the closures.
"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."
