Consensus appears to be growing among the Sonoma Valley Unified School District board to close Adele Harrison Middle School, though the board ultimately determined at its meeting Thursday that more information and time is needed to take any final decision.

“Board members appear to be nearing a consensus on closing Adele Harrison in 2026-2027 and consolidating its students at Altimira,” Trustee John Kelly said.

Administrators also discussed which of the four elementary schools to close if the district consolidates to one high school, one middle school and three elementary schools — which was the main model considered — but again, no decision was reached. no final decision.

Consolidation is being considered due to steadily declining district enrollment and the pressing need to achieve balanced budgets and sufficient reserve funds.

After spending 4 hours and 30 minutes on the issue on Thursday, trustees will meet again on Monday, November 18, to continue their consolidation discussion. That public meeting will begin at 4 p.m. at the district offices, 17850 Railroad Ave. in Sonoma, and will be streamed on sonomatv.org.

“I think there’s great value in the board having another study session so we can continue to discuss configuration ideas and possibilities with the staff there,” board president Celeste Winders said. “This is one of the biggest decisions a council can make and it takes a lot of discussion and process for the council to consider every option.”

Many school district employees and community members — including members of the Moon Valley Teachers Association — attended the Nov. 14 board meeting and expressed support for giving the board more time to make a decision.

Jason Lehman, who will represent District 3 on the board starting in December — replacing Kelly, who did not run for re-election — will be invited to attend the Nov. 18 study session because he will be a voting member when the board could take action on the consolidation at its Friday, Dec. 13 meeting.

Harold Freeman, an expert on consolidation in California public schools, said the Dec. 13 meeting will be the board’s last opportunity to vote on the consolidation, which would provide enough time for it to take place in the 2025-26 school year.

School board members indicated they are still considering several consolidation options for closing an elementary school by the fall of the 2025-2026 school year, but two of the scenarios most seriously considered are closing either Sassarini or Prestwood. Support was also expressed to close Flowery and move its dual immersion program to Prestwood.

“I’m still open to considering all those options,” Winders said. “However, I shared at the meeting that moving the dual immersion program is not something I see value in because it would cause a larger footprint in student impact.

“It would directly affect three primary schools instead of two. As we stated at the meeting, there is absolutely no way to make this decision without impact, but we can make a decision that lessens the impact as much as possible. That’s what I look at in my decision-making process.”

Kelly said he is concerned that the district is considering closing some of its most successful programs and sites.

“I think it’s a mistake,” he said. “Prestwood has historically been the primary elementary school for the town of Sonoma, with Sassarini originally serving as an expansion to accommodate a larger student population. While the city’s current student numbers may not justify maintaining both schools, folding Sassarini back into Prestwood may be a more viable approach.

“Similarly, Flowery, once considered a troubled school, has been revitalized with its dual immersion program, which has thrived for years. Its location in the heart of the Spanish-speaking community is critical to the program’s success. Moving him elsewhere could undermine his progress and disrupt a well-established community.”

Kelly said concerns raised about the state of Flowery’s facilities reflect historical funding inequities rather than the value of its program or its commitment to its community.

Kelly said if the council were to close Prestwood, it was essential to ensure education services continued at the site.

“For example, the district should consider working with Sonoma Charter School to explore whether it could offer programs at Prestwood while maintaining its role as a center for community education,” he said. “Overall, the community is looking for less change than what is currently being considered, and the district should respect that sentiment in its decision-making process.”