Community pushes back as Santa Rosa trustees consider school closures to close budget gap

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Hundreds of residents packed the Santa Rosa High School gym on Feb. 12 as the Santa Rosa City Schools Board of Education heard more than two hours of public comment calling on trustees to halt or delay proposals to close or consolidate schools to address a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall. The board announced a study session for Feb. 18 and said it would take a vote on plans the following day, Feb. 19.

The question of which schools to close — and whether to pursue proposals that would convert middle schools into 7–12 campuses or create “super” elementary campuses — dominated public remarks. Speakers from every level of the district urged trustees to protect neighborhood schools and preserve specialized programs that parents and students say cannot be moved. Students, teachers and parents repeatedly warned that shutting a high school or moving programs would displace students, shrink program access and drive families out of the district.

Why it matters: closing a campus would reassign students and staff, disrupt programs such as ArtQuest and IB, and reshape feeder patterns and transportation. Trustees said they face a legal and fiscal timeline to produce savings but repeatedly told the audience they want community input before finalizing a plan.

Discussion details

- Models under consideration — discussed earlier in the district process and referenced repeatedly during public comment — included a 3–1–1 consolidation scenario, converting some high schools to 7–12 campuses, and creating “super” elementary schools that would absorb students from multiple closures. Commenters called the 7–12 and super-elementary concepts risky for younger students and warned they would create overcrowding, schedule conflicts and lost services for middle-school-age children.

- Student and staff testimony focused on programs that parents and students said are unique or not “movable,” including ArtQuest (a countywide arts magnet), career-technical-education shops (wood, metal, auto), an on-campus farm, and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Multiple speakers said those programs attract interdistrict transfers and generate positive outcomes and argued that their loss would reduce district enrollment in future years.

- Special education and small-campus protections were a frequent theme. Parents from Albert F. Biella and other small campuses asked trustees to avoid closures that would force students with disabilities into larger settings, calling transitions traumatic for those children.

Board and staff statements

- Trustee De La Torre said the board must act quickly: "This board must remain resolute and put something to vote next Wednesday on the nineteenth," she said during her report. Several trustees reiterated a schedule of study and decision meetings rather than unilateral action behind closed doors.

- The district acknowledged a multi‑million‑dollar deficit and that any plan will be difficult. A district representative said state oversight and county review (Assembly Bill 1200) will also shape the timeline for budget corrective actions.

Voices from the meeting

- Mary Lehman, president of CSEA Chapter 75, told the board during public comment that classified employees are bracing for reductions and warned against repeating prior financial errors: "We do not want another year of uncertainty and financial mismanagement. We want a future," she said.

- Student trustee Omea Suniga, speaking for the superintendent student council, urged a transition plan that minimizes harm and asked trustees to affirm supports and resources for affected students.

Public concerns and clarifications

- Several speakers and board members criticized the district for the perceived speed and communication of the consolidation process. Commenters asked for more detailed transition plans (transportation, capacity, schedule and program continuation) before a final vote.

- Speakers used different deficit figures, ranging from about $10 million cited by some student groups as a target for savings to parents and students who referenced figures as high as $20 million. The district has continued to report changing projections as it completes its AB 1200 financial disclosures and prepares second-interim budget reports.

What the board did and what’s next

- The board did not take a final vote on closures at the Feb. 12 meeting. Trustees set a public study session for Feb. 18 and indicated they planned to vote on a consolidation plan on Feb. 19. Trustees also asked staff for additional data and reiterated that any plan must comply with state law and county review under AB 1200.

- The district said it will continue the fiscal stabilization work with its finance subcommittee and the county office of education and will return to the board with additional budget scenarios and implementation details.

Ending

Trustees acknowledged the size and tone of public participation and said they would continue public outreach ahead of the scheduled Feb. 18 study session and Feb. 19 vote. Community groups, parents and students said they plan to attend those meetings and continue urging trustees to preserve high schools and neighborhood campuses.