The J.O. Combs Unified School District Governing Board did not vote on closing Combs Traditional Academy at its Nov. 4 meeting. Superintendent Toby Haugen presented the results of the district's parent surveys, and board members said they want a longer public study session before they decide anything. The board's public study session on elementary school restructuring is set for 8 a.m. to noon Friday, Nov. 20, at the district office, 43371 N. Kenworthy Road.

Many people spoke during public comment, and speakers opposed closing the academy. Some also asked the board to leave Simonton Elementary as it is.

What the Surveys Found

Haugen said 389 families answered the district's first survey, 89 from the academy and 300 from Ellsworth, Harmon, Ranch and Simonton elementary schools. Academy families said they would follow the school more than the building. If the academy moved to another campus and was the only school there, 84 percent of its families said they would stay. If it shared a campus with another school, 26 percent said yes, 36 percent said maybe and 38 percent said no. Families ranked high academic expectations, character education and discipline, and the school's culture and traditions as the most important things to keep, followed by the principal and teachers.

Families at the other four schools mostly want their schools left as they are. Sixty-one percent said a traditional academy model would be not very or not at all appealing for their school, and 10 percent said they would consider the academy if it moved to a different elementary school.

About 70 academy students already live in the Ellsworth attendance area, so the district sent follow-up surveys to academy families and Ellsworth families. They described a combined school at Ellsworth that would keep the traditional model and the Ellsworth mascot, with the same number of classroom teachers. Of the 91 academy families who answered, 52 percent said they would definitely or probably stay, 27 percent were unsure and 21 percent said they would not. Among the 130 Ellsworth families who answered, 25 percent said they would stay, 25 percent were unsure and 50 percent said they would not. In both groups, families said the principal and the teachers would do the most to make them confident about staying.

The surveys also asked what families would do if the academy closed outright. Haugen said 75 percent of academy families said they would leave the district, about 20 percent were unsure, and 5 of the 91 said they would choose another J.O. Combs school. He told the board that every option would cost the district some families and some staff, and that no decision has been made on who would lead a combined school or how it would be staffed.

Haugen opened the item by saying about 46 percent of the district's elementary seats are filled, with 1,806 students in its elementary schools. State rules let the district's base funding rise each year by inflation or 2 percent, whichever is less, and he said the district's costs have been rising faster.

What Happens Next

Board members said they would rather work through the options at a study session, which Haugen described as a public board meeting with more time for discussion. He said he would bring in the district's finance, special education and curriculum leaders to explain how each option affects their departments. One board member asked that the session cover how special education and the RISE program would work under each option, and what happened in other districts that made similar changes. Board members will email their questions to Haugen. The district has posted the public notice for the study session on its Public Notices page.

The board's retreat and training session is Thursday, Dec. 3, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to the public. It is meant to help the new board members who join in January. The next regular meeting is Wednesday, Dec. 9, and it starts at 5 p.m. with the new members' oath of office.

To speak during public comment at a regular meeting, fill out a speaker form and give it to the superintendent before the meeting starts. Meetings are held in the governing board room at the district office, 43371 N. Kenworthy Road. The district office, (480) 987-5300, can answer questions about the study session.