“This is a large amount of information and a very important decision that administrators are responsible for making,” Winders said.

During the session, Winders expressed his preference for consolidating Altimira and Adele Harrison colleges in Altimira, due to its closer proximity to where most students live, among other reasons.

Trustee John Kelly said he believes consolidating Adele Harrison schools is the best option for several reasons.

“Adele does not need the costly geotechnical renovations that Altimira would need,” he said. “By consolidating Adele, which is a newer school, we can centralize our education services on the Broadway site, alongside Prestwood Primary School and our secondary school. »

He said this would reduce the district’s footprint, leading to greater management efficiency and cost savings.

“Additionally, moving the middle schools closer to the high school allows our Community Resource Officer, Ed Esponda (of the Sonoma Police Department), to more effectively resolve student discipline issues. Consolidation at Adele also offers the option of keeping sixth graders in their elementary school, a preference I have heard many families express.

“Finally, this plan allows us to honor our commitments regarding the remaining bond funds without diverting resources from previously promised projects.”

Trustee David Bell — emphasizing that he was speaking only for himself and not the school board at large — said he also advocated consolidating Adele Harrison schools.

“The Altimira campus is our second largest facility after the high school, with a capacity of more than 800 students,” he said after the study session. “That’s more capacity than we need, and it also requires several million dollars in improvements, both seismic and cosmetic. Adele, on the other hand, doesn’t need many, if any, upgrades.

Bell supports closing Sassarini or Prestwood if elementary schools must be consolidated.

Kelly said if an elementary school were to close, he advocated for community consolidation in which educational services would continue to be offered at each site through collaboration with Sonoma and Woodland Star charter schools.

“We have seen the success of this model in Dunbar, where the relocation of Woodland Star Charter School has led to increased enrollment and continued community engagement,” he said.

Kelly said Sonoma Charter School has expressed a willingness to move to a site where district services could be disrupted, which would allow educational services to continue at that location.

“Specifically, I believe that Prestwood and Flowery elementary schools should not be disrupted, and the committee report was clear that El Verano Elementary should not be considered for closure either,” he said. -he declared. “That means Sassarini Elementary School is the school that I believe is under consideration.”

He said based on this approach, the Sassarini site could remain an active educational facility through a partnership with Sonoma Charter School.

“This means that instead of closing the school completely, we will transition the campus to an alternative model that continues to be used for educational services, minimizing disruption to the community,” Kelly said.

Landry said she was not yet ready to recommend which schools should be closed.

The consolidation committee also explored the possibility of establishing new classroom configurations, such as K-8 or K-6 schools.

Bell said the district should consider creating all K-6 elementary schools rather than the current K-5 and/or having a K-8 dual immersion school in a different location than the current sites: Flowery Elementary School and Adele Harrison Middle School. .

“We asked for the district’s input on the specific issue of K-6 versus K-5,” Bell said. “I want to know the pros and cons.”

Kelly said he thinks moving to a K-6 model has “potential.”

“Many parents have expressed that sixth graders could benefit from remaining in the elementary school environment for an additional year before moving on to middle school,” he said. “If this approach aligns with family preferences and is feasible for our district’s resources, I support exploring the K-6 configuration.”

“This could address some developmental and disciplinary concerns, providing a smoother transition for students as they progress through their studies.”

Kelly said he does not support creating K-8 schools because the model does not fit the district’s current educational structure and research indicates it may not be the best fit.

He said the consolidation process has been a challenge for everyone involved.

“However, I believe this is an opportunity to enhance our educational programs, expand choices for families, conserve resources, and chart a course for the future of our district,” he said. Kelly said. “Our goal is to become a more unified district, not only administratively, but also as a cohesive community. »

Bell noted that the school district has approximately $11 million in capital improvement funds and encouraged the school board to use that money wisely by focusing on current and future needs.

“Hearing public comments at the October 29 meeting, I am concerned that people do not fully understand how dire our budget situation is and, unfortunately, the only way for us to begin to resolve the problem is to consolidate schools,” he said. said.

Contact the reporter, Dan Johnson, at [email protected].