Amphi district faces tough school closure decision in Oro Valley | Local News

ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (KVOA) – Amphi Public Schools could undergo significant changes as the district’s governing board prepares to vote on the potential closure of several elementary schools. This decision, set to be made Tuesday night at Canyon del Oro High School, has stirred emotions among parents and district leaders.

Amphi Public Schools Superintendent Todd Jaeger has consistently advocated for the closure of four elementary schools, stating the district faces no other option. The schools in question include Nash, Copper Creek, Donaldson, and Holaway Elementary Schools.

Caitlin Provencio, a parent of two children at Holaway, shared her perspective on the impending decision. Provencio anticipates that the board will approve the closures.

“I’m still trying to decide, I don’t know if being there is just going to like make me annoyed again, when I’ve kind of already accepted what’s happening,” Provencio said.

District spokesperson Michelle Valenzuela acknowledged the difficulty of the situation for the entire Amphitheater community.

“Totally understand and share, the disappointment, the frustration, the concerns that the sort of economic situation we’re in has made on the entire Amphitheater community,” Valenzuela said.

Superintendent Jaeger officially presented his recommendation to close the schools at a governing board meeting last month. He cited declining student enrollment and rising operational costs as key reasons for the proposed closures.

Provencio expressed skepticism about the decision-making process as she believes a decision was made to close schools before the district held large-scale meetings late last fall.

“I mean to be honest, it doesn’t really matter what they do from here on out, like the damage has already been done with the way they have treated families up to this point,” Provencio said.

Provencio plans to remove her children from the district due to her dissatisfaction with the process.

Valenzuela emphasized that there will be three opportunities for public comment during Tuesday night’s meeting, which starts at 6 p.m. at Canyon del Oro High School.