Superintendent says consolidation recommendation is tentative; town halls scheduled before Dec. 16 board decision
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Summary
Superintendent Davidian told the board that a superintendent advisory council working with consultant MGT Services recommended considering school consolidation and that she had provided a tentative recommendation; she stressed the recommendation is not final and said town halls will precede a final board vote on Dec. 16.
Superintendent Davidian told the Lennox Unified School District board that a superintendent advisory council (SAC), working with consultant MGT Services, recommended that the district consider school consolidation to address declining enrollment. "The recommendation that the SAC provided to the superintendent was with the recommendation to either for the superintendent to decide to either close Nelson or Buford School," she said, adding that any consolidation would be part of a process that includes community input.
The superintendent emphasized the recommendation is not final. "What was presented at the September 30 meeting is a recommendation. What will be presented at the town halls is only a recommendation," she said. She said the district has posted agendas, minutes and materials online and disputed rumors that a final decision or a leaked letter made closure final.
To gather community feedback the district will hold town halls (with interpretation and livestreaming) this month; the superintendent said the information gathered there will be included in her final presentation to the board. She told the public that the board will take final action at its regular meeting on Dec. 16. "It is only here and only here that the board will take action, and that action will be final," the superintendent said.
The superintendent also asked the community to evaluate materials carefully and to bring questions to the town halls. Administration said sample draft communications had been prepared for planning purposes, and the superintendent reiterated that draft language does not mean a decision is final.
Background: the SAC was formed in April and worked with MGT Services to examine declining enrollment, facilities needs and budget considerations; the SAC returned a recommendation by ballot on Sept. 2 and the superintendent later provided a tentative recommendation to the board. The superintendent said work has been intentionally transparent and that supporting documents have been posted online.
Next steps: town halls this month (dates posted by the district), interpreted sessions, livestreaming, community feedback included in a final staff recommendation, and a scheduled board vote on Dec. 16.