Gilbert Public School Board discusses school closure

In a packed room of parents and students Tuesday night the school board OK'd closing Gilbert Junior High. Reporter Hayley Ringle live-tweeted at the meeting.

  1. Final decision: close #GJHS in 14-15. Form transition committee to determine best use of both campuses for 13-14. Bring back rec. Jan. 8.
  2. More questions being asked and ideas thrown out. Hundreds still waiting for decision.
  3. Burk suggesting open another GCA on GJHS campus.
  4. Burk seconded. Helen Hollands has concerns of parameters of transition team.
  5. Board member Blake Sacha made motion to move closure of #gilbert JHS to 14-15 yr & transition team would decide where kids will move in Jan.
  6. Burk asked to form committee of parents from each affected school, come back in Jan. & make decision then. Motion died. No second.
  7. Board member Staci Burk wants to move to divide rec and consider separately closing of #Gilbert JHS and expanding GCA. Lots of applause.
  8. #Gilbert Parents now only getting one minute to speak. They are not happy.
  9. #gilbert JHS dad Rob Guderian: wants board to delay decision. Has 7th grade daughter & doesn't want her to move.
  10. #GCA mom Kathy Almeida: Change is necessary for growth of community. Don't need to lose any more $. Support decision to expand GCA.
  11. #Gilbert JHS teacher & coach said athletic fields can't handle HS sports. Got choked up. His kids never quit. They are good enough.
  12. #GCA dad: He was ill prepared at his public AZ school. His senior son got 1400 on SAT & has college scholarship, wants to b engineer
  13. #Gilbert mom said community needs to be involved. "Find better solution w more transparent process." She's opposed to closing GJHS.
  14. #Karen Udall, former school board member, opposed to closing #Gilbert JHS. Wants 6 months to explore expansion. Lots of support in room.
  15. Standing ovation also for #Gilbert JHS principals. Public comment limited to an hour. Asked that comments not repeated. 3 minutes for each
  16. #Gilbert JHS interim principal Kelly Hahn: small school. Biggest special Ed population. Lots of faculty at school 4 more than 10 yrs.
  17. Standing ovation for #GCA principal Jodie Dean: GCA not for everyone. It's another option.Our kids have will to succeed. Something unique.
  18. No #Gilbert JHS staff will lose job if school closes, said Allison & Jeff Filloon, oversees HR
  19. #ShaneMcCord, assistant super., will establish transition teams 4 #Gilbert students & parents impacted.
  20. Allison: #Mesquite, #Greenfield, #Highland JHS will not be over capacity if close #Gilbert JHS. Class sizes will remain 27:1.
  21. #Allison: 52 out of district kids on #GCA wait list. Expansion will bring those kids into district.
  22. Allison: No costs planned next yr to upgrade #Gilbert JH. Renovated 8 yes ago. In future, expect upgraded science labs & add pking lot 4 HS
  23. Allison: Pros of leaving #Mesquite JHS as the West JH, include location, quality swimming pool, lower student decline, larger athletic field

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Angelique Soenarie

Social media producer @The Arizona Republic.DM or email tips to [email protected] RTs/links are not endorsements.

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