Amphi Board to discuss decide on closing Copper Creek Elementary next week
The Amphitheater Unified School District is moving toward a decision on whether to close Copper Creek Elementary School and three other campuses as part of a consolidation plan driven by declining enrollment and financial pressures. Superintendent Todd Jaeger has recommended that Copper Creek be consolidated with Wilson K-8 and Harelson Elementary, while Donaldson, Nash, and Holaway Schools would also be merged into nearby campuses. Parents and staff have raised concerns about transparency and the impact on community schools, and a petition opposing the closures at Copper Creek has gathered significant support. The Amphi Governing Board is scheduled to vote on the superintendent’s closure recommendations at its January 13 meeting, after a legally required public review period. The meeting will be held aat 6pm at the Leadership and Professional Development Center, 701 W. Wetmore Road, Tucson, Arizona. This is the standard location for board meetings unless otherwise noted. The agenda and any updates on time or location will be posted on the district’s website at least 24 business hours before the meeting.
This Monday, Oro Valley Water Utility Director Peter Abraham will brief the Water Utility Commission on stalled negotiations among the seven Colorado River Basin states over how to share future water use reductions once current operating guidelines expire at the end of 2026. According to Abraham’s report, the states failed to meet a November 2025 deadline to submit a preliminary agreement, and a deep divide remains between the Upper Basin states, which oppose mandatory cuts, and the Lower Basin states, including Arizona, which are calling for shared reductions during dry years. Arizona officials have asked for stronger federal involvement, warning that without agreement by a February 14, 2026 deadline, the U.S. Department of the Interior is likely to intervene and impose new rules. Reservoir levels remain low [Panel right], reinforcing pressure on the states to resolve the impasse.
Oro Valley residents are invited to weigh in on the town's Trails Plan
Oro Valley residents are invited to review and comment on the OV Trails Connect 90% Master Plan Draft during an online Trails Stakeholder Group meeting on January 15, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Town staff will walk through the draft plan and gather community feedback as the project moves toward completion. The meeting will be held via Zoom. Residents are encouraged to review the draft plan and maps in advance at OVTrailsConnect.com, where comments can also be submitted directly if attending the meeting is not possible.
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