A lengthy public-comment period and an extended staff presentation on enrollment, capacity and fiscal impacts framed the board's discussion of school consolidation on Thursday. Speakers represented a wide range of views: teachers and parents urged consolidation to expand program offerings; residents, alumni and some city officials warned of lost local identity, transportation and parking impacts; others asked for updated data and a completed environmental review.

After the public comments, staff summarized a recommended procedural step: undo the board's May 2022 resolution that previously selected a consolidation plan tied to COP-funded construction, and instead direct staff to use the work already done for the prior CEQA effort toward a new environmental analysis for a reconfigured plan that would place grades 7'9 on one campus and grades 10'12 on another. Jared (staff) said the earlier EIR work remains useful but that the district should pursue a mitigated negative declaration or updated CEQA analysis matched to the new configuration; staff emphasized traffic, parking and transportation-demand mitigation as the most material outstanding issues.

Public testimony highlighted contrasting viewpoints. Lisa Farrar, a teacher and parent, said consolidation would expand elective, career-technical and extracurricular opportunities for more students and preserve school traditions by retaining names and colors. By contrast, Diane Bennett and other residents said consolidation would erase more than a century of local tradition, risk transportation problems and reduce options for some students. Ione city officials and several Ione residents urged closer study of projected local growth, traffic and the environmental impact of moving large numbers of students.

Trustees asked staff for a clearer, side-by-side package of the most relevant data: recent and projected enrollment by grade/cohort, usable classroom and gym square footage, parking capacity, walk and drive access, and a multi-year timeline showing staffing and phased costs. Staff committed to compile consolidated materials from prior presentations and to return with a timeline and recommended next steps. Board members emphasized that any final consolidation vote will require completion of CEQA steps and public review and should not be treated as a fait accompli.

Trustees did not take a final consolidation decision at the meeting. Instead they signaled a two-step path: (1) a board action to rescind the May 2022 resolution as a procedural prerequisite, and (2) directed staff to pursue updated environmental analysis and more detailed comparisons before bringing a final consolidation resolution for board action.