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Amphitheater School Consolidation

 

Amphitheater: Future-Ready

 

Amphitheater Public Schools is looking to the future to ensure that generations to come continue to have the excellent educational opportunities the District has provided for more than 130 years.

Amphitheater Consolidation Announcement Letter

November 17, 2025

Dear Amphitheater Community: 

Amphitheater Public Schools has served our community for 132 years. Throughout that time, our commitment has always been to provide students with strong schools, outstanding educators, and meaningful opportunities to learn and grow. This legacy of excellence is one we are absolutely determined to uphold. 

As I have shared over the past months, our District is facing a significant, structural decline in student enrollment. School districts across Arizona and the nation are grappling with this reality. To ensure that Amphitheater remains fiscally sound and educationally vibrant for our students now and into the future, we are compelled to make difficult, but necessary, decisions this year. 

Over several months, I have worked diligently with District leadership, administrators, teachers, staff, and community members to study and analyze potential paths forward. It has been a process of careful consideration and deep reflection, as I am ever mindful of the profound place this District and its schools hold in the history of our community and the lives of so many families.  

Following this process, I have reached a decision, and this letter represents my formal announcement that, at their meeting on December 9, I will recommend to the Governing Board of the District that several elementary schools be consolidated effective next school year (2026-2027).  

Recommended Schools for Closure & Consolidation 

Closing Building 

Welcoming School(s) 

Copper Creek Elementary School 

Painted Sky and Harelson Elementary Schools 

Donaldson Elementary School* 

Mesa Verde Elementary School

Nash Elementary School 

Keeling and Walker* Elementary Schools 

Holaway Elementary School 

Rio Vista Elementary School* 

 

*Note: Very small sections of the current attendance boundaries of Donaldson and Rio Vista will also be adjusted slightly to enroll students within those areas at Walker.  

Families with students currently attending kindergarten through fourth grade who are affected by the consolidations will receive a separate email today with their child’s enrollment information following this consolidation. All current fifth-graders will go to the same middle school next year as they would have before this consolidation, unless they open-enroll at a different site. Families with children in our preschool programs will also receive separate communication in the coming weeks. 

These changes will take effect next school year. And, as always, all of our schools will continue to accept open enrollment requests. 

We understand that receiving this news about school placements and consolidations raises many questions for our families and staff. It is important to acknowledge the deep impact this has on all of us. Our schools are deeply woven into the history of their neighborhoods; each one represents relationships, cherished memories, and a shared sense of identity and purpose. 

Please know that these recommendations are not made lightly. They reflect serious, well-documented challenges facing our District and public education across Arizona: 

  • Declining birth rate
  • The state’s private school voucher system (“Empowerment Scholarships”)
  • Rising education costs
  • Inadequate state funding
  • Significant budget shortfalls 

As enrollment decreases, stretching resources across too many campuses makes it increasingly difficult to sustain the strong academic programs, high-quality staffing, and facility improvements our students deserve. 

Preserving Our Strength and Looking Forward 

To preserve the long-term strength of our District, we must reinvest our resources where they matter most: in the classroom. Consolidating our students and staff will allow us to strengthen academic, arts, and athletic programs across the District, enabling us to develop more robust offerings such as band, orchestra, and specialized clubs.  

This process was guided by objective criteria, including District-wide analysis of enrollment trends, demographic projections, academic opportunities, special education needs, the condition and capacity of existing facilities, and anticipated cost savings. We also critically reviewed feedback from several advisory councils and committees representing teachers, classified staff, administrators, parents, and community members. 

While the circumstances prompting these changes are undeniably difficult, the changes are necessary to ensure we can maintain access to strong, excellent neighborhood schools for generations to come. 

We are committed to supporting students and their families throughout this process, and there will be efforts underway to do so throughout the coming Spring Semester. We also want to ensure the staff of the District is well cared for throughout this process. Members of my administrative team will begin meeting with the staff at each of our affected schools this week to provide information about the path ahead. 

Our Enduring Commitment  

While our District structure will look different following this consolidation, the heart of Amphitheater will remain unchanged. Our commitment to our students is absolute: 

  • We will continue to put students first as we evaluate every decision.
  • We will remain committed to providing rigorous and engaging academic programs supported by talented educators.
  • We will maintain class-size commitments, including reduced class sizes for students in grades K–3 made possible by the voter-approved budget override.
  • We will continue to offer free, full-day kindergarten District-wide (even though the state only funds half-day).
  • We will sustain one-to-one access to laptops and ensure strong technology supports.
  • We will seek to sustain and even expand the range of elementary school programs that help define our District, including preschool, gifted education, Special Education, STEM, and the arts, all while honoring our 132-year legacy of excellence.

Next Steps and Community Engagement  

As for next steps, this week, we will host three separate community meetings organized by feeder pattern. More detailed information regarding the consolidation plan within each feeder pattern will be presented at these meetings, and there will be opportunities for public input and feedback.  

  • Wednesday, November 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the Ironwood Ridge High School Auditorium to review theCopper Creek, Painted Sky, Harelson consolidation.
  • Thursday, November 20, at 6:30 p.m. in the Amphitheater High School Auditorium to review the consolidation of Nash, Walker, and Keeling and the consolidation of Holaway and Rio Vista.
  • Friday, November 21, at 6:30 p.m. in the Canyon del Oro High School Auditorium to review the consolidation of Donaldson Elementary and Mesa Verde.

We welcome and need your feedback on these consolidation proposals, regardless of whether you are able to attend the community meetings this week. We have created a form for questions and input. We will also collect comment and question cards at the community meetings and will answer as many as possible at the meetings. Following these community meetings, we will update the information that is available on our District website regarding consolidation, including additional answers in our online FAQ. If you are unable to attend the community meeting for your affected school(s), please submit any comments and questions through the link provided above. We will also make materials and information from these meetings available online for all those who cannot attend.  

On Tuesday, December 9, I will present a formal recommendation report to the Governing Board at its regular meeting. This report will include a summary of the feedback we have received from the public following this announcement, as well as detailed information provided at each of the three community meetings and other pertinent information.  

Please be aware that the Governing Board will not take action on December 9, because Arizona law requires that the Board conduct a public review of proposed school closures at least ten days prior to voting. Therefore, the Board would be expected to take action on the recommendations at their January 13, 2026, meeting, allowing sufficient time for implementation of the consolidations to proceed and be completed for the start of next school year. 

School closures are among the most difficult decisions any district can face. Schools are more than buildings; they are places of belonging, discovery, and connection. These recommendations weigh heavily on my heart, as I know they do on yours. And yet, despite these challenges, Amphitheater remains strong. Together, we will take thoughtful, decisive actions that protect what matters most: exceptional teaching, thriving school communities, and the well-being of every student. 

Thank you for your continued support of Amphitheater Public Schools. 

Most sincerely, 
Todd A. Jaeger, J.D. 
Superintendent 

 

 

 

Timeline for information. The same information can be found as text on this webpage

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Frequently Asked Questions

Please review this page to find questions we have received from students, staff, families and community members. We are doing our best to answer questions as information becomes available.

We have included questions that can’t be answered until decisions are made because we want you to know we have received them and will update them with information as soon as possible.

If you have a question you don’t see here, please submit it by email to answers@amphi.com. We’ll add it to this page and let you know when it’s answered.

 

Recent Updates

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    • Monday, Nov. 17: We shared school consolidation recommendations with District families and staff by email.  

    • Nov. 19, 20, and 21: Community meetings by feeder pattern to discuss the recommendations, answer questions and gather feedback.  

    • Ironwood Ridge High School Feeder Pattern: Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at IRHS to specifically review proposed consolidations in the Ironwood Ridge feeder pattern. 

    • Amphitheater High School Feeder Pattern: Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Amphi High to specifically review proposed consolidations in the Amphi High feeder pattern. 

    • Canyon del Oro High School Feeder Pattern: Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at CDO to specifically review proposed consolidations in the Canyon del Oro feeder pattern. 

    • Following the community meetings: We plan to send a survey to all affected families to help guide planning for the combining of school campuses and cultures. This will allow families and staff who are unable to attend the meetings an opportunity for input. Additionally, we will be monitoring our answers@amphi.com email address for questions and comments. 

    • Tuesday, Dec. 9: The Superintendent will present a full recommendation report to the Governing Board at its regular meeting. The Board will not vote at this meeting. Arizona state law requires the Board to hold a meeting to review closures at least 10 days before a vote is taken. 

    • Tuesday, Jan. 13: The Governing Board is expected to vote on the Superintendent’s recommendations. 

  • Community meetings to discuss the Superintendent’s recommendations:

    • Ironwood Ridge High School Feeder Pattern: Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at IRHS to specifically review proposed consolidations in the Ironwood Ridge feeder pattern. 

    • Amphitheater High School Feeder Pattern: Nov. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Amphi High to specifically review proposed consolidations in the Amphi High feeder pattern. 

    • Canyon del Oro High School Feeder Pattern: Nov. 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium at CDO to specifically review proposed consolidations in the Canyon del Oro feeder pattern. 

  • If a student is open-enrolled at a school that is recommended for consolidation, they will move with their peers, unless a parent decides to open-enroll them at another Amphi school. In cases where consolidation involves moving students to more than one school, parents can contact their school office to discuss which school they would like their child to attend.

  • English form

    Spanish form

 

FAQ: Impact on Classrooms

  • The District will continue to adhere to Governing Board policy regarding class sizes. If students have been in class rooms at schools that are dramatically under-enrolled, they may see larger class sizes than in previous years. However, the classes will remain in line with Amphitheater policy,

  • We will continue to offer art, music and PE for all of our elementary school students.

  • We will continue to offer band, choir and orchestra at our schools.

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FAQ: Data

Questions and answers in this section contain information about data such as enrollment numbers, school capacity and demographic information.

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  • Three primary factors are contributing to enrollment decline:

    • Declining birth rates: Arizona’s birth rate dropped by 33% from 2007 to 2021.
    • Expansion of private school vouchers. As of May 12, 2025, 88,862 students were receiving vouchers to pay for private school tuition, curricula, educational supplies and tutoring. Students can only get voucher funding if they do not attend a public school. In the Amphitheater boundaries, 1,367 students were receiving vouchers, totaling $13.5 million in funding as of fourth quarter 2024. Students who were already enrolled in private education were receiving $11.8 million of that total. This means that students in the Amphitheater boundary who had been in public school and are now in private school or microschools were receiving $1.7 million per year that at one time went to public education.
    • Surge of charter and private schools in the Amphitheater boundary. The Amphitheater boundary area has 21 charter and private schools. To put that into perspective, Catalina Foothills has two, Flowing Wells has four, Marana has three and Sunnyside has five.

  • Since 2005, Amphitheater has experienced a steady decline in enrollment. Find a chart that shows the trend here.

  • The national birth rate has been in steady decline since 2005. Find a chart that shows birth rate data since 1970 here. We are working on collecting birth rate data specifically for the Amphitheater District. We will update this question with that information when it is available.

  • The declines in enrollment have resulted in campuses that are dramatically under-enrolled. This table shows the enrollment and capacity of each of our sites, along with the annual operational and per-student operational costs. Note: The table was presented to the Governing Board in the spring using data available at that time.

 

FAQ: Decision-Making Process

In this section, you will find answers to questions about how decisions will be made and how changes will be announced and managed.

  • At Amphitheater, our first priority is always what’s best for students and families. We also take into consideration our staff and community.

    For school closures and consolidations, we will weigh several factors, including:

    • Impact on students and families
    • Impact on staff
    • Impact on the community
    • Cost-Benefit analysis
    • Possible outcomes for the building and grounds (repurposing, leasing, sale, etc.)

    We are also gathering input from students, families, community members, certified staff, classified staff, and administrators through our Superintendent Student Advisory Council, Superintendent Certified and Classified Advisory Councils, and our Superintendent Community Advisory Council. Additionally, we are meeting with our Budget Advisory Committee, which includes parents, community members and staff.

    Through these groups, all constituents are represented. We also welcome additional feedback through our answers@amphi.com email address.

  • The Superintendent will make the final determination on what schools to recommend for closure. The Governing Board will vote on whether to accept the Superintendent’s recommendation.

  • We are collecting feedback and input from our advisory groups, including:

    • Student Advisory Council
    • Community Council
    • Budget Advisory Committee
    • Certified Advisory Council
    • Classified Advisory Council
    • All-Team Administrative Meetings

    If you have questions or would like to offer input, please email answers@amphi.com. We will consider all feedback in the decision-making process.

  • We are collecting feedback and input from groups that collectively represent all constituent groups:

    • Student Advisory Council
    • Community Council
    • Budget Advisory Committee
    • Certified Advisory Council
    • Classified Advisory Council
    • All-Team Administrative Meetings

    We will continue to share information through our website, in our advisory meetings and through ParentSquare, our communication platform. Additionally, the Superintendent is visiting each campus to discuss the budget and consolidation with staff members.

    If you have questions or would like to offer input, please email answers@amphi.com.

  • The boundaries for receiving schools will be redrawn to incorporate students from the closed schools.

  • Equity across feeder patterns is one of the factors the District will consider when determining school closures and consolidations.

  • The Superintendent expects to make determinations in November. Once those are finalized, District leaders will begin to discuss implementation, including staffing. Some staffing decisions are dependent on enrollment, so projections based on the consolidation decisions will impact those decisions.

  • We hold community meetings to discuss the decisions and answer questions in mid-November. We will provide dates when they are finalized.

  • We monitor enrollment trends and our enrollment data closely and will make adjustments in we see significant changes.

  • The District has been collecting information from other districts that have closed schools to learn about how they unified students, staff and school communities after consolidation. Once determinations have been made, teams will develop concrete plans for bringing our students, families and staff together as unified campuses. If you have ideas in this area, please send them to answers@amphi.com.

  • School districts across Arizona and around the nation have closed schools or are in the midst of closing schools. Examples in Arizona include, Paradise Valley, Roosevelt, Cave Creek, Mesa and Kyrene.

 

FAQ: Communication

  • We will share information with staff and families through our website and ParentSquare, our communication platform. Staff and families can also find information presented to the Governing Board by visiting amphi.com/governingboard.

  • We will share information through ParentSquare, our website and our newsletters. If you have questions or are seeking information that has not been provided, please email answers@amphi.com. We aim to respond withing 24 hours on workdays.

  • Reaching all families is important to the Amphitheater District. Our schools and school staff will be provided with information they can share with families. Additionally, we will hold in-person meetings to provide information to families and take questions and feedback.
    Our ParentSquare communication platform has proven very effective in reaching families through text, app notification and email in the language they designate is best for communication with them. Many families these days have phones, even if they do not have computers.
    Nonetheless, we continually work with our schools to ensure that we do everything we can to reach all families.

  • The best way to get answers to questions or request information to email answers@amphi.com. We aim to respond within 24 hours on workdays.

    The email inbox is monitored by Michelle Valenzuela, Director of Communications, and Beth Lake, Community and Family Engagement Coordinator. If questions are submitted that they can’t answer, they reach out to the staff member who can find the information.

 

FAQ: School Culture & Community

  • We will work with staff, families, administrators and community members to create strong communities that represent the best of our schools and our District. 

    The goal through consolidation is to keep our school and District culture, to ensure that Amphitheater’s values and vision remain strong for future generations.

  • The factors will be considered after determinations are made with input from all constituent groups.

  • Parents, volunteers and community partners are essential to our schools and our District. We will work with these groups and organizations to ensure smooth transitions.

 

FAQ: Transportation, Schedules & Logistics

  • Bus routes will change for the affected schools, though ride times are expected to remain similar to current times. Families will be notified when consolidation determinations have been made and routes can be finalized.

  • While destinations may change if children change schools, transportation will continue to be provided according to Governing Board policy.

  • We do not anticipate significant changes to start and end times. We may see shifts by five or 10 minutes, depending on transportation needs.

  • Once decisions are final, we will work to address any changes to parking and traffic flow that may be necessary.

  • The District will continue to maintain and secure any vacated buildings until determinations for use can be made.

  • We do not anticipate changes in feeder patterns for middle schools and high schools.

 

FAQ: Programs & Services

  • Children who receive special education services will continue to receive those services. The Student Services department will work with each school to ensure IEPs, 504s and any other special services are provided and fulfilled.

  • The Student Services Department will evaluate needs and requirements for all students receiving special education services and work with families and school teams to ensure a smooth transition.

  • We anticipate continuing to offer preschool education at all of our elementary, K-8s and high schools

  • We will work with community partners and volunteers to transition their work into merged schools.

  • We do not anticipate an impact on free/reduced lunch qualifications at this time. We will evaluate this when determinations are made.

  • The District is conducting a review of capacity at each campus and will consider that data in decision-making.

 

FAQ: Finance

  • The District continues to evaluate potential financial impacts, which are dependent on which schools are closed or consolidated.

  • As part of the District’s commitment to transparency, all public financial reports will be shared.

  • Savings will be used to help the District remain financially secure into the future, barring significant drops in enrollment and/or significant cuts to funding for public schools.

  • The District is grateful to the Amphi community for continuing to support our bond and override programs. Bond funds are earmarked for specific needs, such as facility maintenance (HVAC, plumbing, etc), technology and safety measures. Override funds are used for expenses fr expanded early childhood education, instruction in art, music and PE, and for smaller class sizes in grades K-3. The funds from bonds and overrides cannot legally be used for purposes outside of the uses permitted by voters when the measures were on the ballot.

 

FAQ: Staffing & HR

  • The District will follow Governing Board policy for reassignment and changes in employment. It’s important to note that each year, the District fills 50 to 60 teacher vacancies due to resignations and retirements. We anticipate filling many of those positions with teachers impacted by consolidation.

  • The District will follow Governing Board policy for reassignment and changes in employment.

  • Staffing will continue to be based on enrollment, school and student needs and according to Governing Board policy.

 

FAQ: Boundary Maps