News Summary
The Sonoma Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees has decided to close Flowery Elementary School by the end of the 2025-26 academic year due to budget shortfalls and declining enrollment. This decision follows a consolidation plan that includes the closure of two other schools. The board’s vote raised concerns about the impact on the community and highlighted the need for an equity assessment, as Flowery Elementary serves the highest number of students among district elementary schools despite its low capacity.
Sonoma, California – The Sonoma Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees has voted to close Flowery Elementary School by the end of the 2025-26 academic year, marking the third school closure in response to ongoing budget shortfalls and declining enrollment. The decision was reached with a 4-1 vote, with Board President Catarina Landry and trustees David Bell, Anne Ching, and Jason Lehman supporting the measure. Trustee Gerardo Guzman cast the sole dissenting vote, voicing concerns about the impact of the closure on the community and advocating for further exploration of alternatives.
The closure of Flowery Elementary School is part of a broader consolidation plan that the district initiated back in 2022 to combat financial difficulties and diminishing student numbers. Two other schools, Dunbar Elementary and Adele Harrison Middle School, have already been closed, with Dunbar ceasing operations at the end of the 2022-23 academic year and Adele Harrison shutting down after the 2024-25 school year.
Flowery Elementary, which currently serves 363 students, boasts the highest enrollment among the district’s elementary schools, despite having the lowest capacity of 440 students. This discrepancy highlights the need for potential upgrades and improvements to school infrastructure. Community members, particularly representatives from La Luz Center, have urged the board to delay the closure until a thorough equity assessment can be conducted, underlining the school’s significance in the area.
Guzman raised additional concerns regarding the decision-making process, suggesting that the board needed more time and input from the community prior to closing such an important institution. Flowery Elementary is currently the only K-5 school in the district with a waitlist, making its potential closure even more contentious among families and local advocates.
The district’s enrollment data reflects a worrying trend, with schools in the K-5 category operating at just 62.7% capacity. The district has experienced a dramatic 39.4% decrease in K-12 enrollment since 1999, plummeting from 5,076 students to 3,078 as of April 2025. This trend threatens the sustainability of the current educational framework, leading to dire financial projections. For the 2024-25 school year, the district anticipates a deficit of approximately $2.98 million, followed by an additional projected shortfall of $1 million in the subsequent year.
In an effort to mitigate these financial challenges, the board passed a resolution to eliminate 40 classified staff positions and 14 certificated positions, which is expected to save the district around $2.91 million. Although these measures are designed to improve financial stability, the closure of Flowery Elementary and the associated staff cuts have raised major concerns among families affected by the changes.
The proposed closure of Flowery Elementary must also comply with the California Environmental Quality Act, necessitating the development of a transition plan and a revision of elementary school boundaries as part of the process. The board is contemplating various options for relocating the school’s dual immersion program and is looking at El Verano Elementary School, Sassarini Elementary School, or potentially a new model dividing grades between TK-2 and 3-5.
Furthermore, the impending arrival of a new superintendent may affect the timeline and decision-making process regarding school closures and the future of educational programs in the district. As the situation unfolds, community members and stakeholders remain alert to the potential ramifications of these budgetary constraints on local education and cultural identity.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Kyrene School District Proposes Closure of Nine Schools
Fairview Elementary School Closes Due to Smoke and Water Damage
Excel Academy Public Charter School Announces Sudden Closure
Sonoma Valley School District Votes to Close Flowery Elementary
Additional Resources
- Sonoma News: Flowery Elementary School Closure
- Sonoma Sun: School Board Should Delay Closure Decision
- Sonoma County Gazette: Board Votes to Close Bilingual School
- Press Democrat: Sonoma Valley Trustees Consolidation
- Kron4: Sonoma County School District Closures
- Wikipedia: California Environmental Quality Act
- Google Search: Sonoma Valley Unified School District
Author: STAFF HERE MILWAUKEE WRITER
MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER The MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMilwaukee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Summerfest, Milwaukee Film Festival, and the Milwaukee Boat Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and Visit Milwaukee, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and brewing that power the local economy such as Harley-Davidson and MillerCoors. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Wisconsin's dynamic landscape.
