Sierra Vista board votes 3-2 to close Joyce Clark Middle School amid $5.5 million shortfall

The Sierra Vista Unified School District governing board voted 3-2 Wednesday to close Joyce Clark Middle School, a decision administrators said was necessary to shore up a projected $5.5 million shortfall tied to declining enrollment.

Administrators framed the closure as part of a broader consolidation plan aimed at moving to neighborhood K–8 schools and making fuller use of underutilized classrooms. "We are $5 million in debt and if we lose more students, we're even more than that," Superintendent Terry Romo told the board during the meeting, stressing the fiscal urgency.

Crystal Wambeke, the district's interim director of curriculum, presented the administration's rationale, saying the district has "lost over 2,000 students" and is operating with many underfilled classrooms. She outlined K–8 consolidation models and said closing Joyce Clark would be one step toward stabilizing staffing, academic continuity and student supports.

The meeting included extended public comment, with speakers urging the board to consider alternatives. Cassie De Piazza, a district employee, used her three minutes to allege an HR onboarding failure after she said she was suspended without pay when a certification timeline was not clearly communicated. "My suspension was excessive as well as professionally and emotionally harmful," De Piazza said, and asked the district to review hiring and onboarding procedures.

Several parents, teachers and students urged the board to spare neighborhood schools such as Carmichael Elementary. Sixth-grader Allison Velez said Carmichael had improved from a D to an A on state accountability reports and called the school a "second home" that provides critical neighborhood services and access for families who walk to school.

Marty Bangle, a public commenter who pressed administrators for a detailed cost breakdown, questioned the financial math of the chosen closures and said a survey indicated a majority of stakeholders wanted Joyce Clark to remain open.

Board members debated competing priorities for nearly an hour, with some emphasizing the middle school's role in providing a dedicated transitional environment for early adolescents and others arguing that failing to act could trigger state intervention. The board heard that one consequence of inaction could be state-imposed cuts and possible receivership if the district does not present a viable budget solution.

When the board took a roll-call vote, Mrs. Ratchford voted No; Mr. Conroy and Mrs. Sheriff voted Yes; Mrs. Robinson voted No; and the presiding board member voted Yes. The motion passed 3-2.

Votes at a glance - Joyce Clark Middle School closure: passed 3-2 (Ratchford No; Conroy Yes; Sheriff Yes; Robinson No; Presiding member Yes) - First reading approved for policy updates (GCB professional staff contracts; GDCB support staff emergency religious leave): passed 5-0 - Intergovernmental agreement with Pima Community College for student-teacher placements (effective April 22, 2026): passed 5-0 - Educational Services Incorporated staffing agreement (effective July 1, 2026): passed 5-0 - Acceptance of resignation of Michelle McAllister (effective March 27, 2026): passed 5-0

What happens next Administrators said the closure follows the town-hall process required before placing a closure item on a board agenda and that additional public meetings, staff notifications and rezoning work would follow. The board asked administration to provide a detailed financial plan showing how the proposed closures and other options would close the $5.5 million gap before the end of June.

Reporting note: At the meeting, speakers identified themselves and their roles; quotes in this story are taken from the meeting transcript and were attributed to the speakers who made them.