Tensions rise among Kyrene families as they battle to preserve their schools, potentially facing imminent closure
The Kyrene School District held a meeting on Tuesday night to discuss recommendations to close or repurpose nine of its schools. The proposals come from the district's Long-Range Planning Committee, who acknowledged the difficulty of the decision.
The district, which currently serves about 12,000 students, was built for 20,000. If no changes are made, the district could face a $7 million funding loss over the next five years.
During the meeting, children as young as first graders addressed the board, pleading for their schools to stay open. One student said, 'For my siblings and me, Mariposa is an extension of our home.'
Parents supporting Kyrene de la Mirada School created a website and petition to advocate for the school. Similar actions have been taken by parents at other schools on the potential closure list.
The district will host community meetings throughout October and November to gather more feedback before making a decision, which is not expected until December at the earliest. Some parents who oppose the plan argue that the board focused too heavily on maps and demographics instead of the unique value each school provides. They are urging officials to reconsider which schools should be on the closure list.
Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve is expected to lower interest rates for the first time in 2025. This news, although not directly related to the school district, may have implications for the district's budget in the future.
Unrelated to the school district, an unknown man stabbed a mother and two teen daughters in a Mesa apartment, and NAU researchers helped develop a nationwide database to help fight wildfires.
In a related development, Trump's visit to Britain began with a $42 billion tech partnership. These events, while not directly related to the school district, reflect the broader context in which the district's decision is being made.
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