PHOENIX — Roosevelt School District is reconfiguring its district amid a $4.7million deficit.
Dr. Dani Portillo, superintendent for the district, said they have communicated the news online and in meetings to let people know about potential changes and have also conducted community surveys that could impact the district's decisions moving forward.
"The number one thing that has come up from all of the community groups that we've engaged with is that they want us to do what's best for students so that we prepare them through our programming and through our educational experiences," Portillo said.
Portillo said the deficit is in part due to the district's sharp decrease in enrollment.
According to the district, enrollment in 2007 was more than 12,000 and this year it is less than 7,500.
"We have had a pattern of enrollment for quite some time [like] other districts across the nation that's due to declining birth rates and increased competition in the educational options that families have," Portillo said.
Shelley Jackson, board president for the district, emphasized enrollment decrease is something happening all over the country, not just in south Phoenix.
"We have over 30 charter and private schools also saturating our district," Jackson said. "That's definitely something that's at play as well."
Portillo said due to the deficit and their efforts to provide quality programming and education, schools will reconfigure and certain campuses could be merged.
"I've made a recommendation to combine certain campuses which means there will be some vacant buildings which will be repurposed so that we can benefit south Phoenix through that asset," Portillo said.
Terrance Kennedy, a south Phoenix resident, said there had been speculation in the community there could be consolidations but noted upcoming changes could be a positive thing.
"I think that it will be a bonus, a positive for us as we continue to come together, to continue to grow, and that might provide more resources for our kids more programs for our kids," Kennedy said.
Roosevelt School District's next meeting is Nov. 12. Portillo said she will make her recommendations to the board on Nov. 19th.
"Any changes that are recommended to the board and that the board might take action on will not take place until the next school year," Portillo said. "Students will not experience any changes throughout the spring semester."