School Consolidation FAQS

Big Picture District Consolidation Questions

• Why is school consolidation being considered in our district?

  The budget shortfall is largely due to a significant decline in student enrollment. SRCS has too many schools for the number of students it serves, compounded by a steady loss of students to charter schools, families moving out of the area, and lower birth rates. The district had 15,430 students (excluding charters) in the 2012-13 school year, but enrollment dropped to 12,860 in the 2023-24 school year.

• What is the purpose of the School Consolidation Committee?

  The purpose of the School Consolidation Advisory Committee is to review and analyze ALL school sites within the District and determine a relative prioritization for which sites might be closed and/or consolidated as it will not be needed for school purposes. 

• Who is on the consolidation committee? How did the committee form?

  Refer to the SCAC website for the full list of committee members. Members were selected by the district from a pool of 100+ applicants around July of this year.

• What criteria will be used to decide which schools are consolidated or closed?

  Refer to the SCAC website for the full list of criteria. There were 25 initial criteria considered; however, the committee decided to remove three of those criteria (i.e., 14, 15, and 16) though those data points are still available for discussion. Relative rankings will be informed by, but not fully decided by, the sum of these criteria for each school site.

• What schools are closing?

• This has not been decided yet. The SCAC will present a recommendation of school site prioritization to the SRCS Board in February. The SRCS Board will then make the decision by the end of February.

• Will transportation options be provided for students if they need to transfer to another school?

  This is being considered and will be determined by the district following the decision on site closures.

• How will the district ensure minimal disruption to students’ education during this transition?

  SRCS is focused on making this transition as smooth as possible with minimal disruption. The district will develop a comprehensive plan to ensure all students, families, and staff are supported during the transition. This includes working closely with school site leaders and central office staff to address any concerns and provide access to support services for students and families.

• What is the timeline for the consolidation decisions to be made and implemented?

• The goal is for SRCS to make the decision on site closures in February. The district intends to implement the closures by the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

• What measures are being taken to maintain the quality of education during and after the consolidation?

  The goal is for students will receive many of the same or improved programs, services, and support at their new school. The District maintains its commitment to providing high-quality educational opportunities at all schools.

• How will funds saved through consolidation be allocated within the district?

  The funds saved will affect the district’s general budget, allowing the district to maintain good fiscal standing without running a deficit.

• Where can parents access the latest updates and information about the committee’s progress?

  Refer to the SCAC website. Additionally, there will be a series of town hall meetings in January that the district is planning. This will also be discussed at the regular SRCS Board meetings.

• What contingency plans are in place if consolidation creates overcrowding at other schools?

  Current and future capacity at each campus is being considered in the consolidation decisions. The district will evaluate enrollment and capacity as the plan is implemented.

• How does the committee plan to address concerns about community impact and loss of school identity?

  The SCAC is not evaluating specific community impacts beyond those that are part of the evaluation criteria. This may be evaluated by the SRCS Board as they make their decision.

• Will additional resources be provided to schools absorbing students from closed or consolidated campuses?

  The district is committed to making the transition as smooth as possible with minimal disruption. A detailed transition plan for each impacted site will be developed once the decision is made.

• What assurances do families have that decisions will be made transparently and equitably?

  All schools are being considered as part of the school closure process to ensure that the decisions made are equitable, data-driven, and in the best interest of the whole district. This comprehensive approach allows the district to:

  
1. Evaluate All Options Fairly: Considering all schools ensures that no single school is unfairly targeted and that the process remains transparent and inclusive.


  2. Address Enrollment and Budget Challenges: With declining enrollment and significant financial challenges with a large deficit, the district must look at the big picture to identify where closures or consolidations would have the least impact while preserving educational quality and equity.


  3. Maximize Resources: Reviewing all schools allows the district to identify opportunities to consolidate resources, improve efficiency, and provide more robust programs and services for students.


  4. Ensure Long-Term Sustainability: By taking a district-wide view, the goal is to create a sustainable plan that meets the needs of students and families for years to come.

  
This process is difficult, but it’s grounded in the commitment to maintain educational excellence and equity for all students.

  SRFACS Possible Impact from Consolidation Questions

• How will the consolidation process impact the Santa Rosa French American Charter School?

  The SRFACS site is being evaluated by the same criteria as all sites in the district and is being prioritized with the rest of the charter and elementary school sites.

   

• Will the unique language immersion program at our school be preserved in the event of consolidation?

  The SRFACS Charter is not part of the SCAC recommendation, only the school site is being evaluated. The SRFACS Charter is currently up for renewal in 2028. Although we can make no guarantee, we are working to ensure the SRFACS Charter, and program are preserved through this process.

   

• How will students and families be supported if our school is impacted by consolidation?

  We will need to stay close as a community and will stay in communication as much as possible through this process. We don’t yet know what the decision will be from the SRCS Board, but we’re ready to respond as soon as we have more information.

• What opportunities do parents and community members have to provide input during this process?

  Public comment is available at all SCAC and SRCS Board meetings. Also, sending respectful, collaborative letters, focused on solutions to the SRCS Board members can be very productive.

   

• How will teachers and staff at Santa Rosa French American Charter School be affected?

  This is not yet known. After the Board’s decision, SRCS and bargaining units will meet to discuss the effects and impacts of closures, including criteria for staff allocations. Additional details on staffing and school placements will be provided as the process moves forward, in alignment with collective bargaining agreements and Education Codes.

• What role does the unique cultural and academic identity of the school play in the decision-making process?

  The SRFACS Charter is a unique program and is considered a program that would need to be moved should the school site be impacted.

• How can parents directly communicate with the School Consolidation Committee, and what should they be communicating on behalf of SRFACS?

  Public comment is available at all SCAC and SRCS Board meetings. Ben Wolf (bwolf@srfacs.org) is also on the SCAC; feel free to reach out with any questions. Communicating the value of the SRFACS program and also advocating for broad solutions for the entire district is helpful.

   

• Is SRFACS definitely closing in June 2025?

  No.

• What should the SRFACS community be pushing for in order to reduce the possible disruption of our program? 

  Once the decision for site closures has been made in February, we will better understand how to advocate best for SRFACS. Proposing creative solutions that help the entire district in the meantime can be helpful.

• Can SRFACS stay at our current location past 2025 until the district has a set site for us to move?

  If the SRFACS site is not selected for closure in February, it is possible for the school to remain on the site until another suitable location is determined. Following the site closure decision in February we will have a better idea of how to advocate for next steps for our school.

• How do we communicate that the SRFACS move should not be part of the consolidation process and should be addressed at a later time?

  The district has already considered this as a possibility. Once site closures decision is made in February, we will know how to advocate for our next steps, including the potential to delay a move.