Miami Standard (Phoenix, AZ) – The Phoenix Elementary School District has decided to close two schools and reduce its workforce by laying off 65 teachers and staff, with the decision being made through a unanimous vote.

Following extensive discussions and valuable feedback from the community, the governing board reached this decision to address a budget shortfall caused by decreasing student enrolment and reduced federal funding.

The historic district, with a legacy spanning 153 years, is set to close Paul Laurence Dunbar School and Maie Bartlett Heard Elementary School, resulting in hundreds of students needing to transition to new schools. Sixty-five roles, including educators, aides, and additional personnel, will be eliminated.

On Tuesday night, the board made the decision to eliminate approximately 40 additional positions.

The meeting was well-attended, featuring around 100 individuals voicing their concerns, including Paul Booth, whose children are students at Heard. The lengthy meeting stretched nearly six hours before a conclusion was reached. Several individuals were observed in tears as they exited the meeting, disheartened by the outcome.

“It’s heartbreaking for the children,” Booth said.

The board faced three choices to address a potential $12 million reduction over the upcoming two years if no measures were implemented. Superintendent Deborah Gonzalez expressed that the board’s decision was challenging yet essential for enhancing support for both students and teachers.

“It’s a sad day,” Gonzalez said. “We don’t have the funding to be able to sustain them, and at the end of the day, we’ve got to provide the best resources possible to our students.

The committee was presented with three choices to consider. Support for the alternative plan came from nearly half of the attendees, proposing to maintain both schools’ operations, albeit with the consequence of approximately 90 job reductions and teacher layoffs. Gonzalez highlighted that essential initiatives such as pre-kindergarten and sports would also be eliminated. Gonzalez expressed concerns that this situation might result in additional school closures down the line and the possibility of a receivership being implemented, akin to the challenges faced by another district in the Valley.

Gonzalez expressed that the decision made on Tuesday night enhances the district’s prospects for the future.

“We have to tighten our belts, and that means really prioritizing what matters to our families, what matters to our students,” Gonzalez said.

Students enrolled at Dunbar will be moved to either Bethune School or Magnet Traditional School. Students attending Heard will be transferred to either Magnet or Capitol School.

Founded in 1871, Phoenix Elementary is home to some of the Valley’s most historic public schools. The Dunbar School, situated close to 7th Avenue and Grant Street, has been serving the community for a hundred years.