Santa Rosa City School Decisions

Posted Date: 2/24/25 (3:00 PM)

DISTRICT MESSAGE

February 23, 2025

SRCS Decisions

Dear BVUSD Families,

As many of us are aware, Santa Rosa City Schools (SRCS) has been making some difficult decisions around school closures and consolidations in an effort to address a $20 million budget deficit. While I don’t have additional insight beyond what has been shared in board meetings and press coverage, I’d like to share a summary of the details - as I understand them at this time - with our community.

Upcoming SRCS Communication

A letter from SRCS with more details on boundary changes and enrollment procedures is expected soon. We will share it with families as soon as it is available.

Ongoing Collaboration with SRCS

Additionally, we are in the process of scheduling a meeting with the SRCS cabinet team to discuss

✔ Student services and support during transitions

✔ Aligning student experiences across schools

✔ Addressing concerns from our families

Summary of Key Decisions from the SRCS Board

In the meantime, I’m sharing the following key details as gathered from recent meetings and media coverage. Links to official sources and additional resources for families are provided at the end of this message.

Overall Summary:

Six SRCS schools will close over the next two years to address the district’s $20 million budget deficit and avoid “qualified certification”
Projected savings are $2 million lower than originally planned, meaning additional budget cuts are still necessary
Other projected impacts include significant layoffs, facility modifications, shifts in enrollment boundaries, and adjustments to school schedules

Elementary Schools - 3 closures

Brook Hill
Albert Biella
Steele Lane will close

Middle Schools - 3 closures

Santa Rosa Middle School - end of this school year (2025)
Herbert Slater Middle School - end of this school year (2025)
Hilliard Comstock Middle School - end of next school year (2026)

High Schools - no closures, with changes

Elsie Allen will remain open with a transition into a magnet school with project-based learning
Santa Rosa High School will absorb Santa Rosa Middle students - becoming a 7-12 campus for the 2025-26 school year
Montgomery High School will absorb Slater students - becoming a 7-12 campus for the 2025-26 school year
Piner High School will eventually absorb Comstock students - becoming a 7-12 campus for the 2026-27 school year, after facility upgrades to account for expanded capacity

Summary of Santa Rosa City Schools Boundary Changes

As part of the district’s restructuring, school enrollment boundaries will shift to balance enrollment across remaining campuses:

Piner High School will expand eastward, taking areas that previously fed into Santa Rosa High and Maria Carrillo High.
Montgomery High School will shift westward, expanding closer to Highway 101.
Maria Carrillo High School will move southwest, absorbing part of Santa Rosa High’s current boundary.
By Year 2, Santa Rosa High School will take over much of Elsie Allen’s historical boundary, while Elsie Allen will operate as a magnet school open to all students across the district.

Additional Resources

For families seeking more details and guidance, the following resources are available:

SRCS Family Resources & Information

How to Register for School (SRCS Website)
Fiscal Stabilization and Site Closure Committees (SRCS Website)

SRCS Meetings & Coverage

SRCS Board Meeting Videos (SRCS YouTube channel)
SRCS Board Meeting Agendas & Minutes (SRCS Website)
Santa Rosa trustees avoid agony of a high school closure, but more budget pain on the horizon (Press Democrat Article, 2/22/25)
Santa Rosa trustees move to close 3 middle schools but spare Elsie Allen High (Press Democrat Article, 2/21/25)

Upcoming Press Democrat Virtual Q&A (Thursday, February 27 at 6 pm)

After registering, participants will receive a Zoom link, calendar invite, and instructions to submit questions in advance. Questions can also be asked live during the panel discussion.

More Support & Information Coming

We understand that these changes bring uncertainty and concerns, and we will continue to support our students, staff, and families throughout this transition.

Stay tuned for any additional information, opportunities, and resources.

In partnership,

Lexie Cala