Santa Rosa, CA – At a Santa Rosa City Schools Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday night, all members indicated a preference for keeping the district’s high schools open, a shift from earlier proposals that had included closing one of the high schools as part of an effort to address a $20 million budget shortfall.
Trustees discussed various alternatives to the previous scenario, which involved closing three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. They directed district administrators to further investigate a wide range of options, with an emphasis on maintaining the current high school structure.
A significant part of the discussion centered around a report from the School Closure Advisory Committee, which emphasized the importance of keeping all high schools operational. The committee’s final report suggested that one possible solution to the district’s financial woes could involve consolidating middle school students onto high school campuses, creating a model for grades 7-12.
Board President Roxanne McNally expressed interest in the grade 7-12 model but raised concerns about whether it could be implemented on a smaller scale while still meeting the district’s budget-saving goals. McNally, who also teaches eighth grade at Cotati-Rohnert Park Unified School District, believes that such a model could foster a stronger connection between middle schoolers and high school, which in turn could improve their academic engagement.
“A huge problem I see with eighth graders is they don’t think their grades matter because they can’t see that jump to the high school,” McNally said. “Having a cohesive program where they know they’re part of it and they know what’s coming—I think that could get them so engaged.”
During the meeting, Associate Superintendent Lisa August and members of the School Closure Advisory Committee addressed questions from trustees, assuring them that the administration would carefully analyze the feasibility of these options.
Another concept that gained traction was the potential transformation of high school campuses into specialized schools, akin to magnet schools, with unique programs tailored to specific student interests. This idea was welcomed by McNally, who suggested it could be the kind of innovative change the district needs.
“That could be the revolutionary change that we need at our district,” McNally remarked.
As the board continues to explore ways to balance budget cuts with the need for strong educational opportunities, it remains clear that keeping high schools open—while considering new models for middle school students—will be a top priority for the trustees in the coming months.