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Parents urge Kyrene board to keep Lagos dual-language program in Ahwatukee; warn against centralizing programs
Summary
Multiple parents and community members told the Kyrene Governing Board Aug. 19 they oppose moving the Kyrene de Los Lagos dual-language program from Ahwatukee or consolidating it with Kyrene del Norte, citing community ties, start-time differences, transportation burdens and potential enrollment losses.
Parents and community members addressed the Kyrene Governing Board Aug. 19 during the public-comment period to oppose proposed consolidations or relocations affecting Kyrene de Los Lagos’ dual-language program and to ask the district to keep the program and school in Ahwatukee.
Caitlin Murphy, identified as a parent of two students at Kyrene de Los Lagos, said her family chose Kyrene specifically for Lagos’ dual-language curriculum and that moving the school from Ahwatukee would force families to make difficult choices about whether to remain in the district. "I urge you to keep Lagos where it is in Ahwatukee and to continue supporting the dual language program that has been so successful," Murphy said.
Several other speakers echoed that position. Heidi (Hadi) Halverson, a Lagos parent, described the school culture and community connections that she said are integral to the program’s success and warned that relocating the program would "gut the program" and its "magic." Kenny Wolford, who identified himself as a parent, cited classroom performance and bilingual outcomes and said bilingual instruction gives students an advantage in a global economy: "At Lagos kids aren't just learning in two languages, they're freaking thriving," he said.
Christy Wolford, another parent, noted logistical challenges she said would arise from a consolidation, including start-time differences (Lagos at 7:30 a.m. and Norte at 9:10 a.m.) and increased transportation burdens. She said enrollment declines statewide do not, in her view, justify consolidating the district's two dual-language sites and suggested the district could reassign some general-education students to support both dual-language campuses.
Several speakers referenced research and local examples of successful Spanish dual-language programs in neighboring districts. Parent Emily Harris said families travel from Chandler specifically so their children can attend Lagos’ program and asked the board to prioritize preserving the established program. Juan Lucio, speaking as an educator, warned that consolidations in other districts had led to substantial enrollment losses and urged the board to explore alternatives.
Vice President Trina Nelson later reminded the public that the district's long-range planning committee has worked without attaching school names until the demographer presents specific recommendations; she encouraged residents to watch committee meetings and minutes online. Nelson said the committee will present demographer-linked school names at an upcoming meeting scheduled for Aug. 27.
No vote or formal board action on school closures, consolidations or program relocations occurred at the Aug. 19 meeting. Board members received the comments and were reminded the board is subject to open-meeting law and that formal proposals would be discussed in future committee and board sessions if brought forward.
Votes at a glance
(Procedural votes recorded during the meeting are captured in the related Sierra facilities article.)
