School News

Dear Dove Hill Elementary School Families,

This evening, I notified the Board of Trustees that I accepted the recommendation of the Evergreen School District Superintendent's School Consolidation Advisory Committee to recommend the following schools for closure/consolidation at the end of the 2019-20 school year: Laurelwood and Dove Hill Elementary Schools. Please note that the Board of Trustees will not take action on this matter until the February 13, 2020 Board of Trustees Meeting.

This is a difficult recommendation to make because none of us want to have to close schools. However, we also know that we cannot ignore the rising operating costs and declining enrollment that we have been facing--and will continue to face as a district, resulting in a $12 million financial shortfall. This decision keeps the best interests of our students in mind so that we can ensure that our schools maintain the level of excellence that our families expect and our students deserve. Ultimately, we must remain a fiscally-sound school district that supports innovative learning in the classroom and prepares students for our competitive global society.

This recommendation comes following two months of weekly meetings of the 24-member Superintendent's School Consolidation Advisory Committee and its subcommittees, and stakeholder community input sessions, meetings, and discussions. The committee considered and weighed a number of factors in making its recommendation, including, but not limited to, current and projected enrollment data, school boundaries, neighboring schools to receive a closed school's student population, transported students, and existing geographical neighborhoods.

I know that you will have many questions and concerns, and I will be meeting with the parents of Dove Hill Elementary School at 8:20 a.m. and again at 6:00 p.m. on Friday (January 24). The meetings will take place at the school's multipurpose room with the purpose of addressing questions and providing additional information about the transition plan. If you are not able to attend either of these two meetings, the information presented at this meeting will be posted on the School Consolidation website www.eesd.org/schoolconsolidation and your school's website following the meetings.

The Board of Trustees will be holding two public hearings:

• Monday, January 27, 2020 at 6 p.m. at Quimby Oak Middle School Gymnasium, 3190 Quimby Road, San Jose
• Monday, February 3, 2020 at 6 p.m. at Chaboya Middle School Gymnasium, 3276 Cortona Drive, San Jose (New location)

The Board of Trustees will then vote on these recommended closures/consolidations at their regularly scheduled meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 13, 2020 at the ESD Board Room, 3188 Quimby Road, San Jose.

I would like to thank you for your patience and engagement during this process. Please be assured that we will do everything we can to support you and your child in making this transition. As always, if you would like to contact me regarding school consolidation, please contact my office at schoolconsolidation@eesd.org.

Sincerely,

Dr. Emy Flores
Superintendent
Evergreen School District