April statement from Dr. Elizabeth Kaufman, Acting Superintendent, Sonoma Valley Unified School District:
On Thursday, April 20, 2023, the Sonoma Valley Unified School District Trustees voted unanimously to suspend enrollment indefinitely at Dunbar Elementary starting next school year. The main impetus for the decision was the dramatically reduced enrollment projected in the fall. The projected enrollment for the next academic year is estimated at 72 students, of which approximately half reside in the Flowery attendance area. Not only is it not economically feasible to operate a school with such low numbers, but the quality of the educational program is also impacted because low enrollment at Dunbar would mean multiple combination grade classes and difficulty staffing a very small school during a teacher shortage.
The Board also voted 5:0 in favor of a proposal to form a committee to study and recommend a smaller district footprint. The committee would start by analyzing a 3-1-1 configuration as its baseline scenario with the potential of three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school/alternative education campus. The elementary and middle school reconfiguration will take place over the next three years.
The specific timeline of when the committee will be created has not been determined because the board has yet to select a permanent superintendent. The permanent superintendent will make that determination.
Site and district staff will be reaching out to parents/caretakers of current Dunbar families to inquire which elementary site they would like to attend. Students may attend El Verano, Sassarini, Prestwood, or one of the two Charter Schools –Woodland Star Charter School or Sonoma Charter School. Flowery Elementary School is a dual immersion Spanish/English school so students would not be transferred to Flowery after first grade.
Great news for the district is that Woodland Star Charter School has asked to occupy the Dunbar campuses early as the 2023-2024 school year. Woodland Star would be able to enroll Dunbar resident students who wish to remain at Dunbar. Dunbar families who have questions about the next school year should contact the principal Elizabeth Stevenson at 707-935-6070, or by email at estevenson@sonomaschools.org
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