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Tempe Elementary board approves early‑childhood center at Carmonati and corresponding boundary changes
Summary
The governing board approved converting Carmonati Elementary to an early‑childhood center for the 2025–26 school year and authorized boundary shifts that move affected students to Holdemann and other nearby schools. Board members discussed enrollment trends, special‑education peer models and uncertain remodeling costs.
The Tempe Elementary School District governing board voted to implement an early‑childhood center at Carmonati Elementary School and to authorize corresponding elementary boundary changes for the 2025–26 school year.
Board members and district staff framed the action as part of the district’s strategic plan response to declining enrollment. Superintendent Dr. Driscoll told the board the district’s demographer projects continued declines and that staff examined district properties for new uses. “One of the things that we have been looking at is how can we provide choices to our families,” Dr. Driscoll said during a presentation that cited earlier demographer briefings and a multi‑year planning process.
Under the approved plan, Carmonati would become a center focused on children from birth through age 5; students who live in portions of Carmonati’s current attendance area would be reassigned to Holdemann and, in some areas, to other nearby elementary schools. Staff said Holdemann and other receiving schools have capacity to absorb additional students. The superintendent described public engagement steps completed under Board policy JC: postcards to residents, required public meetings and a comment‑card process. "We had meetings at Carmonati, Fees, and Arredondo...we answered the comment cards there," Dr. Driscoll said.
Board members raised questions in public discussion about impacts on GETS (the district program that serves preschool‑age students with specialized instruction), how many out‑of‑district peers attend GETS and facility costs to license and retrofit older elementary classrooms for early‑childhood use. Dr. Driscoll said the district is required to continue specialized services for qualifying students and that GETS enrollment is mostly district residents. "I would say roughly 0, maybe 1 or 2," he said when asked how many GETS peers come from outside the district. On construction costs, staff told the board final figures will depend on architectural work and licensing reviews; Moseley’s full rebuild cost was cited as an illustration of escalating construction costs but staff emphasized the Carmonati change is a remodel and would be substantially less than a rebuild.
Public commenters expressed support and concern. Board Member Lemon, speaking during the agenda item, said the district must consider empty seats and reusing buildings: "What spaces do we have and where might a different type of programming be more successful?" Parent and community speakers at public comment highlighted equity and neighborhood impacts; one commenter asked the district to consider long‑term effects on neighborhoods and whether reassignments would concentrate poverty in particular schools.
The motion to implement the early‑childhood program and authorize boundary changes passed in a recorded voice vote; the board announced the motion "passes." Staff said further details — including cost estimates, licensing steps, and a communication plan for affected families — will be developed and returned to the board.
