TUSD votes to close several local schools

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - Eleven schools will close next school year after action by the Tucson Unified School District governing board Thursday night.

The board began the closure process of the schools last month to help close an anticipated $17 million budget shortfall next year. The school closures will not fill the entire shortfall.

The board had considered 14 closures; however, Sewell, Cragin, and Manzo Elementary Schools will remain open. Maxwell Middle School will close and then re-open as a K-8.

How the board voted on 14 proposed closures are as follows. Board member Michael Hicks abstained on every vote. While he said that the district needs to close schools, he said that he did not agree with the process that the district took in selecting the schools for closure.

-Close Hohokam Middle School and send the students to Valencia Middle School. The board approved the measure with members Cuevas, Stegeman, and Sugiyama in favor, Grijalva opposed, and Hicks abstaining.

-Close Carson Middle School and send the students to Dietz K-8 school and Secrist Middle School. The board approved the measure with Cuevas, Grijalva, and Sugiyama in favor; Stegeman opposed; and Hicks abstained.

-Close Schumaker Elementary School and send the students to Bloom and Henry Elementary Schools. The board approved the measure with all members in favor except for Hicks who abstained.

-Close Fort Lowell-Townsend K-8 and send grades 6-8 to Doolen and Magee Middle Schools, and grades K-5 to Whitmore Elementary School. The board approved the measure with members Cuevas, Grijalva, and Sugiyama in favor; Stegeman opposed; and Hicks abstaining.

-Close Corbett Elementary School and send the students to Wheeler Elementary School, and Hudlow or Kellond elementary schools for GATE. The board approved the measure with all members in favor except for Hicks, who abstained.

-Close Lyons Elementary School and send the students to Erickson and Ford Elementary Schools. All members voted in favor except for Hicks who abstained.

-Close Sewell Elementary School and send the students to Bonillas Magnet and Kellond Elementary Schools. The board rejected the measure. Sugiyama voted in favor; Cuevas, Grijalva, and Stegeman opposed it; and Hicks abstained.

-Close Howenstine High School with the receiving school to be determined. The board approved the measure with Cuevas, Grijalva, and Sugiyama voting in favor; Stegeman was opposed; Hicks abstained.

-Close Maxwell Middle School and send the students to Valencia, Mansfeld, Safford K-8 Magnet, and Robins K-8 Schools. All members voted in favor except for Hicks who abstained.

-Close Brichta and Menlo Park elementary schools and send the students to a new Maxwell K-8 and Tolson Elementary School. Cuevas, Sugiyama and Stegeman voted in favor; Grijalva opposed; and Hicks abstained.

-Close Manzo Elementary School and send the students to Tully Magnet Elementary School or convert Manzo to a district charter school. The board did not vote on closing Manzo. The board approved converting it to a district charter with all members in support except Hicks, who abstained.

-Close Cragin Elementary School and send the students to Blenman and Davidson Elementary Schools. The board rejected the measure with members Cuevas and Sugiyama voting in favor, Stegeman and Grijalva voting against it, and Hicks abstained.

-Close Wakefield Middle School and send the students to Hollinger K-8 and Van Buskirk Elementary School. The board approved the measure with Cuevas, Sugiyama, and Stegeman in favor; Grijalva opposed; and Hicks abstained.

The closures are expected to go into effect by the beginning of the next school year.

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