MARANA, Ariz. - The Marana Unified School District may come to a decision Thursday night surrounding the possible closure of Thornydale Elementary School.
Last month, Thornydale parents were sent a letter regarding two public meetings to discuss the school's future. According to MUSD, the closure is being considered due to low enrollment numbers over the past several years.
This #SaveThornydale sign hangs across the street from Thornydale Elementary. Tomorrow, the school board may decide to close it next June due to dwindling enrollment pic.twitter.com/4xwLSiJAZE
— Natalie Tarangioli (@ntarangioli) December 5, 2018
Enrollment has declined at Thornydale since 1994, with an enrollment of 733 students, to an enrollment of 306 students this school year, according to the district.
If the board decided to close Thornydale, the students would be placed at either Quail Run or Butterfield Elementary Schools. But some parents who have students at Butterfield say the parking lot is already crowded during pick-up time. That's why they hope the board decided to keep Thornydale Elementary school open.
If the Marana School District Board decides to close Thornydale Elementary, some students will go to Butterfield. Parents tell me the parking lot is already crowded during pick up time. Decision may come tomorrow pic.twitter.com/zR0zLtR9in
— Natalie Tarangioli (@ntarangioli) December 5, 2018
RELATED: Nearly 300 attend meeting to discuss future of Thornydale Elementary
The district considered closing the school earlier this year, but voted to keep it open in April after parents vocally opposed the closure.
At a meeting on Nov. 20, parents and community members were given the opportunity to share reasons for and against the closure of the school.
RELATED: Parents continue to fight for neighborhood school
The MUSD Governing Board is considering the closure of Thornydale in June 2019. If the board votes to close the school, new boundaries would be drawn to change the attendance boundary currently serving the Thornydale Elementary area to either Quail Run Elementary or Butterfield Elementary.
The meeting is on Dec. 6 at 7 p.m. at the Marana Municipal Complex.
