The Phoenix (Arizona) Elementary School District is looking to close two of its 14 schools at the end of 2024-25 year:
The Arizona Republic reports that administrators have recommended shuttering Dunbar School and Heard School.
"We recently learned that we have a pretty serious budget deficit," Superintendent Deborah Gonzalez said. "We have to make difficult decisions so that the past 153 years, the legacy of the people that came before us, can continue to make sure that we are thriving and able to provide programming for our students."
District enrollment has declined by nearly 29% over the past decade because of lower birth rates, limited affordable housing, and fewer families, officials say.
The district is also facing significant budgetary problems; projections indicate a need for adjustments to avoid drastic cuts in the future.
Public hearings are planned for February before the school closure recommendation goes before the school board for a vote. Students from Dunbar would be relocated to Bethune School, and students from Heard would be moved to Capitol School.
Dunbar serves 158 students, and Heard serves 446, according to last year's state enrollment data.
Several districts in the Phoenix area have announced school closures over the past year: south Phoenix's Roosevelt Elementary School District decided in December to close five schools; the Paradise Valley Unified School District decided last year to close three schools; the Cave Creek Unified School District is set to decide next month on closing two schools.
