Kyrene board reviews three closure maps that would shutter 5–8 schools; vote set for Dec. 16

Superintendent Tenius presented the Kyrene Elementary District Governing Board with three closure and boundary proposals at a Dec. 9 study session, laying out models that would close five, six or eight elementary schools and — in some options — two middle schools.

Under the current model presented at public hearings, the district would close eight schools overall (six elementaries and two middle schools), leaving 13 elementary campuses; several closures and boundary shifts are timed across two school years (most elementary closures in 2026–27; many middle‑school changes in 2027–28). Tenius walked the board through specific campus changes in the current proposal and in two alternatives: Alternative 1 (close six schools — four elementary, two middle) and Alternative 2 (close five elementaries, no middle‑school closures). He noted some closures or mergers would be…