News Summary
The Sonoma Valley Unified School District has voted to close Flowery Elementary School due to budget shortfalls and declining enrollment, marking the third closure in recent years. Despite community opposition, the closure reflects ongoing challenges faced by the district, including significant declines in student numbers and financial projections indicating a looming deficit. Stakeholders are calling for a delay in the closure until a thorough equity assessment can be conducted, raising concerns about impacts on the community and families.
Sonoma, California – The Sonoma Valley Unified School District board of trustees has voted 4-1 to close Flowery Elementary School at the conclusion of the 2025-26 academic year. The closure, attributed to ongoing budget shortfalls and declining enrollment, marks the third school closure in the district since 2022. Board President Catarina Landry, along with trustees David Bell, Anne Ching, and Jason Lehman, supported the decision, while trustee Gerardo Guzman cast the sole opposing vote.
The closure will take effect despite significant community opposition. Flowery Elementary currently serves a diverse student body and has the highest enrollment of any elementary school in the district, with 363 students. However, it also has the lowest capacity at 440 students, highlighting a need for physical upgrades. Community leaders, particularly from La Luz Center, have called for the board to postpone the closure until an equity assessment can be completed, reflecting concerns about the impact on families and the cultural identity of the community.
This decision follows a consolidation plan initiated by the district in 2022 to tackle persistent budget issues and declining student numbers. Prior to the closure of Flowery, Dunbar Elementary School was closed at the end of the 2022-23 school year, and Adele Harrison Middle School will close at the end of the 2024-25 academic year. The district’s K-5 schools are currently operating at only 62.7% of their combined capacity, with projections forecasting continued declines in enrollment.
Enrollment data indicates a troubling trend for the district, revealing a 39.4% drop in K-12 enrollment since 1999, from 5,076 students to 3,078 in April 2025. This sharp decline is accompanied by financial projections that predict a significant deficit of $2.98 million for the 2024-25 school year, with an additional projected deficit of $1 million in the following year. To address these financial challenges, the board has also approved a resolution to eliminate 40 classified employee positions and 14 certificated positions, which aims to reduce expenses by approximately $2.91 million.
As the board prepares for the closure of Flowery Elementary, they are also exploring options for relocating its dual immersion program. Consideration is being given to El Verano Elementary School, Sassarini Elementary School, or implementing a new TK-2/3-5 model. However, any official closure must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act, which includes developing a comprehensive transition plan and updating elementary school boundaries as necessary.
Despite its closure, Flowery Elementary holds a unique position in the district as the only K-5 school exhibiting a waitlist, highlighting its popularity and significance within the community. The proposed closure has generated significant public pushback, with families voicing concerns about the potential ramifications for their children and the community at large.
Looking ahead, the recent arrival of a new superintendent may influence the timeline for final decisions regarding school closures and the proposed relocation of educational programs. The community and stakeholders will continue to monitor these developments closely as the district navigates these challenges.
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Sonoma Valley School Board Votes to Close Flowery Elementary
Additional Resources
- Sonoma News: Flowery Elementary School Closure
- Sonoma Sun: School Board Should Delay Closure Decision
- Sonoma County Gazette: Board Votes to Close Bilingual School
- Press Democrat: Sonoma Valley Trustees Consolidation
- Kron4: Sonoma County School District Closures
- Wikipedia: California Environmental Quality Act
- Google Search: Sonoma Valley Unified School District
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INDIANAPOLIS STAFF WRITER The INDIANAPOLIS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREIndianapolis.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Indianapolis, Marion County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Indianapolis 500, Indy Jazz Fest, and the Indiana State Fair. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Indy Chamber and Visit Indy, plus leading businesses in motorsports and healthcare that power the local economy such as Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IU Health. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Indiana's dynamic landscape.
