Update: SMSD School Closing and Boundaries Decisions

At last Monday’s, Nov. 8, meeting, a motion to vote on a district recommendation to move Brookwood elementary to the South area died without even being seconded, meaning Brookwood will continue feed into East.

Several weeks before the meeting, Brookwood parents submitted a petition signed by 600 parents, which constitutes 85 percent of all parents whose children go to Brookwood, against leaving the East feeder area. The main reasoning behind the resistance to the move is that there will be zero monetary gain from a boundary change into the South boundary area.
Mission Valley parents also voiced concern about the proposed boundary changes for Brookwood, a main feeder school for Mission Valley. They feared that if Brookwood students were to be moved into the South feeder area, the district board would use the new lack of population at Mission Valley as a back door to close the school later in the Winter or next year.

Parents from all high schools voiced similar opinions on one subject: that the district needs to restart the process, but with the community members of the SMSD area involved in the plan making.

“Patrons should be part of the process.” Northwest parent Jean Mullen said.

After much thought and debate, The SMSD Board decided against voting on the issue involving the closing of Mission Valley Middle School. The Board is currently holding the issue until a study concerning building upgrades applicable to all middle schools is complete.

For now, members of the Mission Valley community will have to wait until the next board meeting on Nov. 22 to see if their school  will remain open for the 2011-2012 school year.