Group to look at overcrowding, possible closures

With most high schools at or above capacity and about 15 schools being underutilized, the Peoria Unified School District has formed a new committee that will take a serious look at how their facilities will be used in the future.

The Facility Utilization Committee will evaluate enrollment, financial and operations data to identify district schools that may have an opportunity for repurposing or facility modification.

The committee will be tasked with creating an assessment and master plan to define facility needs at each campus and support facilities, as well as consider the possibility of future school closures.

The 11-member committee is made up of:

• Trina Berg, teacher at Ironwood High School;
• Kacie Franklin, parent of Alta Loma and Peoria Traditional High School students;
• Jennifer Harper, teacher at Marshall Ranch Elementary School;
• Robert Heidt, CEO of Glendale Chamber of Commerce;
• Scott Hollabough, principal at Centennial High School; Dawn Kennedy, teacher at Foothills Fine Arts Academy;
• Kelli Kincaid, city of Peoria Deputy Director of Neighborhood & Human Services;
• Trent Morris, parent of Copperwood Elementary students;
• John Nitchke, principal at Santa Fe Elementary School;
• Matt Palmer, parent of Sunrise Mountain High School student;
• Christian Williams, community member and city planner.

The committee’s first meeting will be Dec. 15. Additional meetings will take place January 2021 through May 2021. The PUSD Governing Board is expected to receive an update from the committee in February 2021.

Recommendations to the governing board could come in May, September and December of 2021.

Studies commissioned last year looked at overcrowding throughout the district and found the total number of open seats is 7,094 or 16%.

Elementary schools have 22% of their seats open and high schools have 2% of their seats open.

Schools within the district’s north and western portions are nearing or over capacity while schools in the district’s south and east are under capacity or low in use.

In general, older elementary and high schools have lower use levels; all high schools are at capacity, except for Raymond S. Kellis, Peoria and Cactus high schools.

Schools with lower use include Ira Murphy Elementary School at 49.4%; Desert Palms Elementary School at 52.7% and Peoria Elementary School at 52.6%.

The committee will consider ways to address these capacities.

Philip Haldiman can be reached at 623-876-3697, phaldiman@newszap.com, or on Twitter @philiphaldiman.