The Tucson Unified School District’s governing board heard pleas from dozens of parents, students and educators on why their school shouldn’t be on the proposal list for school closures and consolidations — made public for the first time on Monday evening. The meeting started at 6 p.m. and ended around 11:30 p.m.
Held at Catalina Magnet High School, about 300 people filled the large auditorium. The largest contingent of parents and students came from Hollinger and Pueblo Gardens schools, as well as a group from Ochoa. While Ochoa was not on the closure list as it has been in the past, a group of parents and activists from South Tucson who helped start a campaign this summer to prevent school closures, showed up to show their support.
They also expressed their thanks to the board, and let them know they were there to support other schools, and to help develop other solutions, besides school closures.
The entire point of the meeting is to figure out what schools to close and consolidate in order to chip away at the $17 million budget shortfall first presented to the governing board by TUSD Superintendent John Pedicone last spring. Three community town halls were held to explain the financial issues and get input; and most recently several focus groups made up of parents, business owners and community members met to put together options and school closure/consolidation criteria.
That criteria was shared with TUSD staff in a letter from Pedicone explaining the process. Based on that criteria approved by the board, at the end of the meeting— a meeting in which the board extended call to audience twice — the board took the list of schools provided to them and decided which ones should be put in the closure/consolidation proposal and be presented to the community in a series of public hearings.
Another group of schools were tabled for discussion at the next TUSD meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 27 — board members requested more information on the school, what schools those students would go to when their school closed and other community issues.
The public hearings scheduled by the board take place Saturday, Dec. 8 and Dec. 10th, The board discussed having one hearing on the east side and another on the west side.. The board is expected to make a final decision on the closures on Dec. 18. The next year — with new board members Kristel Foster and Cam Juarez replacing Miguel Cuevas and Alexandre Sugiyama — the board will have to approve boundary changes to go with the closures and consolidations, and work on a bond project to help pay for the renovations of some of the schools kids would be moving into.
The way the vote went down:
Hohokum Middle School: Unanimous vote for closure
Carson Middle School: Michael Hicks and Mark Stegeman only no votes: “I made a commitment not to support closure in three years,” Stegeman said.
Pueblo Gardens Pre K-8: Tabled for Nov. 27. Adelita Grijalva said she has concerns about what schools the students will attend in the neighborhood. There’s also concern because the school is successful and has the only dual language GATE program in the state.
Hollinger Elementary: On the first round, Grijalva and Hicks were the only no votes, but toward the end of the meeting, Stegeman asked the board to revisit their vote. The rest of the board agreed and it was tabled for discussion at the Nov. 27 meeting. Stegeman said since Hollinger is a solid B graded school he’s not sure if closing it is the right thing to do.
Schumacker Elementary: Hicks only no vote.
Cragin Elementary was tabled for Nov. 27 meeting.
Ft. Lowell-Townsend K-8: Hicks and Cuevas only no votes. “I am concerned moving students twice. It is a real concern and they have made progress,” Stegeman said. “But this is a valuable use of property. A big chunk of savings … about double what most of the other elementary school represent.”
Corbett Elementary: Unanimous yes.
Brichta and Menlo Park elementary schools: Tabled for Nov. 27. “I am very concerned. We have so many west side schools being considered. This is a young community for the most part … you’ve basically eliminated three schools in one area of town,” Grijalva said.
Lyons Elementary: Hicks and Stegeman only no votes.
Warren Elementary: The only board member to support is closure was Sugiyama. Stegeman pointed out that Warren is out-performing the schools that would be used to place Warren students next school year. “I don’t see how you can say that to the Warren community.”
Manzo Elementary — Tabled for Nov. 27 meeting. Grijalva mentioned that the school has close ties to its surrounding community and has is part of the Chicano Movement history in Tucson. The school has also been working hard the past three years to increase performance, although it still struggles. But it has a recognized environmental program.
Sewell Elementary — Hicks voted no.
Howenstine High Magnet School — While a unanimous yes, the board did discuss the school pool, which has become an important part of therapy offered to TUSD special ed students throughout the district.
Ann-Eve Pedersen, who identified herself as a TUSD parent of an 11 year-old student, was also active in the Prop 204 initiative, the sales tax earmarked for Arizona public education, but defeated this past election. Pedersen also helped found and is current president of the Arizona Education Network, after TUSD first brought school closures up when Roger Pfeuffer was superintendent.
“These board members are here to do an unpleasant task,” Pedersen said, adding that meetings like the one on Tuesday were happening in other cities across Arizona.
“We have a state legislature unwilling to adequately fun education. … This legislature cut a billion dollars and have no intention of putting that back in our children’s school. If we don’t want this to continue, layoffs to continue, we’re going to have to ban together as parents, teachers and students.”
Pedersen reminded the audience that if Prop 204 passed it would have helped TUSD with the $17 million deficit and more.
This article appears in Nov 22-28, 2012.
Minor correction: On the first Hollinger vote, Grijalva and I were the only “no” votes. Only a member who originally voted in the majority can formally ask for reconsideration, and that was what Hicks did after I expressed my hope that some member in the majority would take that action.
p.s. Thanks for reporting the details of the votes.
Also, iI believe its not Pueblo Gardens that has the only Dual Language Gate Program in the state, its Hollinger. And for that reason, Its hard to believe the Board is even CONSIDERING closing them…
My real question though, after that Board meeting is a) what cuts will be made AT 1010 to go along with the school closures to save money? Its not clear to me that custodians and food service staff that will be cut can make up the deficit we are dealing with. With the number of schools cut last time around and this time around, I’d expect some RIFs at the 1010 level by the same percentage, at least, as the schools that are being cut…and b) I thought the Board agreed that we would talk about ten closures. But they are offered 15. So will they now be closing 15 or are the extra 5 just to have some wiggle room if one or two of the original 10 get taken off the list? Because if the new number is 15, now, its another example of the Board working for the Supe instead of the other way around, isn’t it? Also, anyone else notice how megaschools are creeping back into the discussion?
Hi All, If we parents start pushing for 100% Vouchers for all
sudents of Arizona…this will put the control of educating our
childrem back into the hand of all parents…and away from the
bureaucrats.
All we hear is closing schools, cutting back on education. That is just the opposite of what should be going on. The climate in AZ is no education for the kids. Our law makers are taking educational funds out of the budget. But what are they spending funds on. More tax breaks for businesses.
Az will never attract businesses until the kids are educated. But it is strange how Southern Republicans states and AZ are against education. They are even against health care for the people, as Gov. Brewer is.
If all the parents protested to the law makers in Phoenix and the Governor maybe more funding for education would take place.
Even the Fed. Road tax money going to the state is put in the General Fund and not distributed to the communities. That is what your law makers are doing for you, the people.
FYI … the “only” Dual Language GATE claim is inaccurate. Pistor Middle School (not slated for closure) has a Dual Language GATE program.
http://www.tusd1.org/contents/depart/gate/programs.asp
It doesn’t make sense that Sewell is on the list for closure. Sewell is rated ADE grade B, the only other grade B school on the list is Hollinger. There are something like a dozen grade D elementary schools in TUSD. Sewell also has a special arts program, OMA, and others.
The only reason I can see why Sewell is closing is something to do with the deseg lawsuit. Well, I’ve been taught by excellent minority and white teachers, I think credit should be given to schools that actually perform well, in the final analysis.
Sewell has a lot of minority students who would be hurt if Sewell closed and they, and their classmates, went to underperforming schools. The goal shouldn’t be manipulating the racial mix of faculty, but promoting good schools, plain and simple.
Hollinger has the unique Dual Language Gate in Arizona!!! I’m so proud of my children school!!!