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Neighbors oppose proposed closures; mixed public reaction to ASU Prep lease nonrenewal
Summary
Public commenters urged the board to halt or revise plans to close Heard and Dunbar schools and criticized lack of transparency; at the same time, many speakers urged the district to end a below-market ASU Preparatory Academy lease at 735 E. Fillmore while ASU Prep staff and students asked for continued dialogue.
The Phoenix Elementary School District governing board heard more than two hours of public comment on Feb. 18 focusing largely on proposed school closures and the district's decision not to renew the lease at 735 E. Fillmore with ASU Preparatory Academy. Dozens of emailed statements, community-members and students spoke during the community communications portion of the meeting.
Neighborhood speakers and parents urged the board to pause or alter plans to close Dunbar and May Bartlett Heard (often referred to as Heard in testimony), said the district had not provided school-level budget details, and warned closures would erode neighborhood stability. Paul Booth, treasurer of the Westwood Village Estates Historic Neighborhood Association, told the board his community had gathered "over 600 signatures" in a petition to save Heard and warned the group would explore redistricting and legal options if the district moved forward…
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