News Summary

The Sonoma Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees has voted to close Flowery Elementary School due to declining enrollment and financial constraints. The decision, made in a recent board meeting, was met with community pushback, particularly concerning the school’s role in the diverse Springs area. With severe budget deficits and decreasing student numbers, this closure aims to address ongoing fiscal issues while also raising concerns about the impact on vulnerable families in the community.

Sonoma, CA – The Sonoma Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees has made the decision to close Flowery Elementary School at the end of the 2025-26 academic year. This decision, reached with a 4-1 vote during a regular board meeting, is a response to ongoing issues of declining enrollment and serious budgetary constraints.

Board members Catarina Landry, David Bell, Anne Ching, and Jason Lehman voted in favor of the closure, while Gerardo Guzman opposed the move. The closure will be the third in the district linked to financial and enrollment struggles, following previous closures of Dunbar Elementary School and Adele Harrison Middle School, both initiated as part of a consolidation plan put forth by the board in 2022.

The potential closure has faced backlash from the community, particularly due to Flowery’s diverse student population and its role in the Springs community. Advocates have suggested delaying the decision until an equity assessment can be carried out, raising concerns about how this closure might negatively impact vulnerable families. Guzman voiced apprehension regarding the lack of community involvement in the closure process and the necessity for additional time to assess the situation’s ramifications.

Context Behind the Decision

Flowery Elementary currently has the highest enrollment among the district’s elementary schools, boasting 363 students; however, it also has the lowest capacity at 440 students. The school requires considerable physical upgrades, prompting additional scrutiny of its viability. Enrollment statistics reveal a concerning trend, with a total of 1,254 K-5 students currently enrolled in the district, which has a cumulative capacity of 1,999, yielding a utilization rate of only 62.7%. With the upcoming closure, the remaining elementary schools will have a total capacity of 1,559 K-5 students, which would increase the utilization to 80.4%.

Financial Implications

The district’s K-12 enrollment has plummeted by 39.4% from 1999 to 2025, with projections indicating that this downward trend will continue in the coming years. Financial forecasts for the district suggest a projected deficit of $2.98 million for the 2024-25 school year, and further challenges are anticipated in years ahead. To address budgetary issues, the board also approved the elimination of 40 classified employee positions and 14 certificated positions, aiming to achieve approximately $2.91 million in budget savings.

Future Considerations

The resolution to close Flowery Elementary includes instructions for district staff to examine options for relocating the school’s dual immersion program and restructuring grade levels across the surviving schools. Potential relocation sites under consideration include El Verano Elementary School and Sassarini Elementary School.

While the decision to close Flowery Elementary aims to remediate long-standing budgetary and enrollment deficiencies, it necessitates the development of a transition plan, new boundary adjustments, and must remain compliant with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The community closely awaits further details as the district navigates these changes.

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Flowery Elementary School to Close Amid Budget Pressures