Amphitheater District Proposes Closure of Four Elementary Schools
The Amphitheater Unified School District (AUSD) has proposed the closure of four elementary schools due to declining enrollment and budgetary constraints. Superintendent Todd Jaeger presented these recommendations during a board meeting on October 10, 2023, with the potential closures set to take effect in the 2026-2027 school year.
The schools at risk of closure include Copper Creek, Donaldson, Nash, and Holaway elementary schools. The consolidation plan aims to streamline operations and allocate resources more effectively, reflecting a shift from a district designed for 19,000 students to one that accommodates approximately 10,500.
Feedback from the community has led to some adjustments in the initial proposal. It has been decided that half of the current Copper Creek students will transition to Wilson K-8 rather than Painted Sky, along with Harelson. Students from Nash will be reassigned to Walker and Keeling Elementary, while those from Holaway will move to Rio Vista. The majority of Donaldson’s students will shift to Mesa Verde Elementary, with minor adjustments for a small group of students to attend Walker Elementary.
According to the AUSD, the decision to consolidate is necessary to address the realities of a changing educational landscape. In a report from Jaeger, he emphasized the importance of investing in students and quality programs instead of maintaining underutilized facilities. He noted that many schools in the district are operating well below capacity, with some designed to hold 600 to 800 students but currently serving only about 250.
The district’s director of communications, Michelle Valenzuela, explained that AUSD has spent over a year analyzing various factors contributing to declining enrollment, including birth rates, feeder patterns, and the impact of charter and private schools. Notably, data from the Arizona Department of Health Services indicates that resident births in Arizona have declined by 33% from 2007 to 2021. Additionally, the rise of charter schools in the area has significantly contributed to reduced enrollment in public schools, with charter school enrollment increasing by 118,000 students since the 2009-2010 school year.
Jaeger highlighted another challenge: the use of state-funded vouchers by 1,367 students within AUSD boundaries to attend private schools or home-schooling, which diverts approximately $13.5 million in state funding away from the public system. He stated, “These schools are operating at less than half capacity, and as enrollment declines, funding also diminishes.”
Despite the financial rationale, the proposed closures have drawn criticism from some community members. Brad Stein, a parent with three children enrolled at Copper Creek, expressed concern over the timing and impact of the announcement. He argued that this recommendation could prompt more families to seek alternatives outside the district. Stein called for a plan that not only reduces costs but also invests in enhancing AUSD’s competitiveness, suggesting that the district should focus on building a strong vision for future success.
If the closure plan proceeds, teachers and staff affected will transition to other positions within the district, with Valenzuela noting that efforts will be made to place as many teachers and classified staff as possible in new roles. The future of the properties being closed remains uncertain, but the district plans to maintain the buildings until a decision is made regarding their disposition.
No final decisions were reached during the meeting, with the board scheduled to vote on the proposed closures on January 13, 2024. For further information on the Superintendent’s recommendations, stakeholders can visit the AUSD website.
