The Glendale Elementary School District is tentatively planning to close or repurpose up to five schools by the end of the 2022-23 school year.
The governing board read written comments and concerns from parents and faculty members during its meeting on Feb. 4. It also heard a two-phase timeline of closing, repurposing or changing the boundaries for schools.
Phase one of the proposed closures will be during the 2021-22 school year.
The board members said Isaac E. Imes and Melvin E. Sine elementary schools should close during phase one. Students from Imes would be reassigned to either Glenn F. Burton, Glendale Landmark or Harold W. Smith. Sine students would go to either Burton or Horizon elementary schools.
Meanwhile, a board meeting last week set the stage for potential permanent closures of multiple Glendale schools.
Due to falling enrollment, the Glendale Elementary School District Governing Board outlined proposed closures of five of the districtâs 17 schools in two phases.
The first phase would close Melvin E. Sine and Isaac E. Imes schools before the 2021-22 school year, with Coyote Ridge, Desert Garden and Bicentennial North potentially closing the following school year.
Facing an $11 million-plus budget deficit, âGESD will ensure financial solvency by providing the community a multi-year process of reorganizing boundaries and repurposing schools by June 2021,â according to a presentation at the Jan. 28 meeting.