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In October, SPS proposed a plan to close 4 schools in the fall of 2025. This plan includes closing North Beach Elementary School, moving that community to Viewlands starting next fall. The district's final recommendation is expected in December or January, with a School Board vote in January.
This proposal has significant impacts on Viewlands as it would more than double the school population. Regardless of the outcome, we are committed to partnering with and supporting all impacted students, staff, and families. Initial community concerns about these consolidations center around the following themes:
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Overcrowding: Enrollment projections for 2023-24 were inaccurately low. If this occurs again it results in school overcrowding impacting facility space and drop-off/transportation capacity.
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Boundaries: Understanding the future of boundary changes for Viewlands, with the expectation of additional district changes in the coming years.
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Facilities: Ensuring appropriate facility space for Special Education Programs and kindergarten/preschool rooms.
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Funding: Potential loss of school-wide Title I qualification and its impact on programs.
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Staffing: Staffing Resourcing may fail to achieve desired staffing ratios due to large enrollment. For example, a half-time librarian for nearly 600 children results in children attending the library every 2-3 weeks.
These concerns are summarized in a letter from the North Beach PTA and Viewlands PTSA presidents to the SPS district leadership and SPS Board of Directors. Click here to read the letter.
The information below is a summary of the upcoming events and additional resources to get information about this proposal.
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