Unanimous Amphi School District Board decision
Last night, the governing board of the Amphitheater School District voted unanimously to close several elementary schools. As previously reported, Copper Creek Elementary is among the schools slated for closure.
Meeting turnout was light... public comment strong
The meeting, held at Canyon del Oro High School, drew a light turnout, with much of the available seating in the fine arts building auditorium empty. Those who spoke in opposition included parents directly affected by the closures and school employees concerned about the potential impact on their jobs. No speakers addressed the issue from a broader Oro Valley community perspective.
Decision downgrades Oro Valley claim that it's a family friendly community
The closure of a neighborhood elementary school undercuts Oro Valley’s long-standing portrayal of itself as a family-friendly community. While the Town promotes its appeal to families with children, this decision removes an elementary school from a well-established residential area. Although enrollment and operational factors drove the district’s action and families have other school options within Oro Valley, the loss of a neighborhood school changes how the Copper Creek area can be described to prospective residents, making it less clearly a place for young families to grow and settle, even if broader real estate impacts are expected to be limited.
Hard to beat "City Hall without overwhelming force
The meeting underscored the absence of broad, organized community opposition. Without coordinated engagement at scale, there was little to counter the district’s momentum toward closure. For example, those opposed to the decision did not engage the Town of Oro Valley in the discussion. As we previously reported, some residents of the district believed they should be given serious consideration rather than simply being reassigned to other schools.
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