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Lennox board hires MGT to study consolidation, restructuring amid falling enrollment
Summary
Trustees voted 4–1 to hire MGT Consulting to conduct a data-driven study under Assembly Bill 1912 on possible school consolidation or restructuring; district leaders said the work will take 6–9 months and aim to inform decisions for the 2026–27 school year.
The Lennox School District Board of Trustees voted to hire MGT Consulting to conduct a demographic, equity and facility study to inform possible school consolidation or restructuring.
Board members voted to contract the firm after a presentation describing the state requirements and a proposed six- to nine-month analysis. The motion was moved by Mr. Lim and seconded by Mr. Alvarez; the roll call vote showed Mr. Lim — yes; Mr. Alvarez — yes; Dr. Pajardo — yes; Ms. Gonzales — yes; Miss Cruz — no, and the motion carried 4–1.
The study is intended to follow the requirements laid out in Assembly Bill 1912, which the district presenter said “lays out the steps that need to take place if they’re gonna consider closure and consolidation,” including development of objective metrics, an equity impact analysis, facility-condition and operating-cost reviews, and detailed transition planning for displaced students and staff.
District staff told trustees the effort will include public meetings, multiple community engagement steps and a transparent record of how the board integrates public input. The presentation estimated typical timelines for similarly scoped studies at six to eight months; at multiple points speakers and trustees noted the work can run longer depending on scope. A board member referenced an approximate consultant fee of about $65,000 during discussion as the likely scale of investment for phase 1 work.
Trustees and staff emphasized the study is intended to generate options — including closures, consolidation, or internal restructuring such as reconfiguring grade spans — rather than force an immediate decision. Staff said any eventual facility decision would not affect the 2025–26 school year and, if acted on, would likely take effect in 2026–27.
Several trustees and staff framed the vote as preparatory: they said the district must gather objective data now so it will have options later. At least one trustee urged parallel efforts to explore programmatic ways to raise attendance and attract students, saying the study should be one part of a broader strategy.
The board instructed staff to proceed with MGT for phase 1 of the work and to return with progress updates and findings as the study advances.
