Kyrene community packs board meeting over possible school closures. The district says it's necessary

Community members continue to push back on potential school closures in the Kyrene School District, but the district’s superintendent says it’s a necessary change.

Enrollment across Kyrene is expected to drop significantly over the next five years, resulting in a projected $7 million funding loss. A long range planning committee has drafted several options for the governing board to consider, each closing a different set of schools.

More than 80 people requested to speak at Tuesday's board meeting to advocate for their preferred plan. Katie Sterbenz is a Kyrene parent who says families choose their schools based on the specific programs they offer.

“But if this plan moves forward, my family and many others will be forced to reevaluate that choice, not because we want to, but because the very programs that make Kyrene excellent are being dismantled," Sterbenz said.

Superintendent Laura Toenjes said the last time the district’s enrollment numbers were this low, it had 14 schools. Now it operates 25.

“This means that our classrooms are sitting empty, resources are spread thin, and it is becoming harder to sustain the things that make Kyrene exceptional,” Toenjes said.

The board will hold several more hearings over the next few months before making a final decision about which schools to close.