Kyrene Elementary District holds third public hearing on proposed school closures and boundary changes

Kyrene Elementary District Superintendent Laura Tenas presented a modified long-range plan Oct. 29 at the district—s third public hearing on proposed school closures and boundary changes, and then heard two hours of public comment from students, parents, teachers and community members.

Tenas told the audience the long-range planning committee studied projected enrollment and facility use for seven months and that the board revised the committee—s recommendation before seeking public feedback. "No district wants to ever have to close schools," Tenas said in her presentation, which included maps and an implementation timeline.

The presentation listed elementary schools the district recommends closing in the 2627 school year: Kaleena, Estrella, Millennio and Menitas. It listed two additional elementary closures in the 2728 school year: Mariposa and Kyrene Traditional Academy. The slides described multiple boundary changes and consolidations (for example, Colina and Lomas merge boundaries in 2627; Millennial and Esperanza merge in 2627; some schools would become open-enrollment only). The presentation also described middle-school closures and boundary changes proposed for 2728…