Kyrene parents, staff urge board not to close 'A‑plus' schools as long‑range plan advances

Dozens of parents, staff and students urged the Kyrene School District Governing Board on Tuesday to protect highly rated schools and choice programs as a long‑range planning committee works toward final recommendations.

Speakers at the board’s public comment period repeatedly asked trustees to favor the east‑side “Option A” approach, which they said would close fewer A‑plus campuses and better preserve neighborhood stability and enrollment. Vice President Trina Nelson, a board representative to the committee, told the board the committee will present formal recommendations at the board’s Sept. 16 meeting.

The public‑comment turn came after Nelson gave a committee update. "There was quite a bit of robust discussion among the tables," Nelson said of the committee’s final meeting, adding that the room turned “pretty emotional” as members considered proposals and the district demographer’s recommendations.

Why it matters: Parents and community members warned that closing top‑rated schools could accelerate family departures, erode district funding and weaken programs that draw students from outside district boundaries. Several speakers said that preserving A‑plus campuses —…