Florence superintendent outlines plan to shift to K–6 and create standalone 7–8 middle schools; implementation set for July 2025

Superintendent Chris Knutson announced that Florence Unified School District plans to reconfigure grade spans to K–6 for elementary schools, establish standalone seventh- and eighth-grade middle schools and keep high schools at grades 9–12, with implementation targeted for July 2025. “I’m here today to give you an update on some work that’s been going on in FUSD for over a year now,” Knutson said.

The district began community outreach in 2024, including parent and staff surveys and public presentations. Knutson summarized the survey results in the presentation: the transcript reports that 56% of parents “strongly agreed” and 23% “agreed” with the proposed model; among employees the transcript reports 76% “strongly agreed” and 14% “agreed.” (A transcription artifact appears in the recording at the start of the survey block; the numbers above follow the clearer items in the transcript.)

Knutson framed the change as a response to demographic shifts and constrained capital resources. He said enrollment declines following the pandemic and the adoption of ESA vouchers have reduced average daily membership — a primary driver of school funding — and that some lower-campus facilities lack sufficient renovated space to function as K–8s. “There are enough renovated rooms with our existing budget to allow for a dedicated 7 8,” he said, adding the reconfiguration would allow the district to reserve capital funds and avoid a bond or override “until absolutely necessary.”

The superintendent listed proposed bell schedules: high schools 7:10 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.; middle schools 9:00 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.; and K–6 elementary schools 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. He said the district will continue seventh- and eighth-grade athletics and expects those teams to compete in a league with nearby districts such as Coolidge, Combs and Apache Junction. Knutson also said gyms at current K–8 sites that would convert to K–6s could host intramural and enrichment programs for fifth- and sixth-grade students.

On capital options, Knutson said the district could fully renovate the lower K–8 campus, purchase modular classrooms or pursue a future bond election to build a dedicated middle school facility. He emphasized the district is planning now to buy time and to consider those options rather than immediately asking taxpayers for new bonds.

Knutson described the boundary principles the district used: create three vertically articulated middle schools that feed directly into one of the district’s three high schools in order to maintain continuity in academic programming, electives and extracurriculars and to plan growth based on demographic projections and current school capacity. He named proposed feeder patterns from multiple neighborhoods into the three middle- and high-school feeds.

The superintendent encouraged community members with questions to contact the district office and offered to meet individually to discuss the goals for FUSD students. “If you have any questions about this model or what our goals are for our kids, please contact the district office,” he said. The presentation closed with thanks.

Next steps described in the presentation include board review (Knutson referenced prior recommendations to the school board in May and follow-up recommendations in August) and continued planning work through the summer ahead of the July 2025 implementation date.