PHOENIX – The school board for the Paradise Valley Unified School District have announced a process that could lead to the closure of four schools that they run.
If plans are approved, the schools could close at the end of the current school year. They include:
- Hidden Hills Elementary School
- Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School
- Sunset Canyon Elementary School
- Vista Verde Middle School
Students and most staff members affected will be moved to other schools nearby. Officials are blaming budget deficit and declining enrollment for the closures.
What happens now?
A series of public meetings on the matter will take place. All meetings listed below are scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
- Jan. 9, 2024 at Sunset Canyon Elementary School
- Jan. 10, 2024 at Desert Trails Elementary School
- Jan. 16, 2024 at Vista Verde Middle School
Jan. 17, 2024 at Hidden Hills Elementary School
Jan. 18, 2024 at Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School
“These public forums are not meetings of the Governing Board. However, feedback collected at these forums will be provided to Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board members. Board members will be present at the public hearing and district community forum held on January 23, 2024,” read a portion of the district’s website.
The public hearing and community forum mentioned by officials will take place at Paradise Valley High School. The district’s School Closure and Boundary Review Committee has also recommended a plan for students affected.
Hidden Hills Elementary School
Under the plan, students attending the school who live north of Cactus Road will be reassigned to Larkspur Elementary, while those living south of Cactus Road will be reassigned to Desert Cove Elementary. The school’s emotional disabilities program and program for students with specific learning disabilities, according to the plan, will be moved as part of a district-wide consolidation.
Sunset Canyon Elementary School
The plan calls for students to be moved to Eagle Ridge Elementary School. The school’s emotional disabilities program will be moved as part of a district-wide consolidation.
Desert Springs Preparatory Elementary School
The plan calls for students to be moved to either North Range Elementary School or Liberty Elementary School, depending on where they live.
Vista Verde Middle School
Under the plan, students attending the school will either go to Greenway Middle School or Sunrise Middle School.
Meanwhile, students currently attending Greenway Middle School, but live within the boundaries of Indian Bend Elementary School, will be sent to Shea Middle School instead. This will affect the high school they will attend, according to the plan, as they will end up in Paradise Valley High School instead of Shadow Mountain High School.
