Consensus is growing to close Sonoma’s Adele Harrison Middle School, but it’s not a done deal

Consensus appears to be growing among the Sonoma Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees to close Adele Harrison Middle School, but the board decided at its Thursday meeting that more information and time is needed to make final decisions.

“Board members appear close to consensus on closing Adele Harrison and reuniting its students at Altimira in 2026-27,” said Trustee John Kelly.

Trustees also discussed which of the four elementary schools would be closed if the district were to be consolidated into one high school, one middle school and three elementary schools — which was the main model under consideration — but again, no final decision was reached.

Consolidation is being considered due to declining enrollment in the district and the urgent need to achieve balanced budgets and adequate reserve funds.

The board of trustees, who spent 4 hours and 30 minutes on the issue on Thursday, will meet again on Monday, November 18, to continue consolidation discussions. This public meeting is at 4 p.m. at 17850 Railroad Ave. in Sonoma. It will launch at regional offices at and will be broadcast on sonomatv.org.

“I think there is great value in the board holding another work session to be able to continue discussing structuring ideas and possibilities with the staff there,” said board chair Celeste Winders. “This is one of the biggest decisions a board can make, and it takes a lot of discussion and process for the board to consider every option.”

Many school district staff and community members, including members of the Moon Valley Teachers Association, attended the Nov. 14 board meeting and voiced their support for giving the board more time to make its decision.

Jason Lehman, who will represent District 3 on the board starting in December and will replace Kelly, who is not running for re-election, will be invited to attend the Nov. 18 work session because he will be a potential voting member of the board. The action regarding consolidation was announced at the meeting held on Friday, December 13.

Harold Freeman, an expert on public school consolidation in California, said the Dec. 13 meeting will be the board’s last opportunity to vote on consolidation, which would provide enough time for it to happen during the 2025-26 school year.

School board members said they are still considering multiple consolidation options to close an elementary school by the fall of the 2025-26 school year, but two of the scenarios most seriously considered are closing Sassarini or Prestwood. Support was also expressed for closing Flowery and relocating the dual immersion program to Prestwood.

“I’m still open to considering all of those options,” Winders said. “However, I shared at the meeting that moving the dual immersion program was not something I saw value in because it would have a greater impact on students.

“This situation will directly affect three primary schools instead of two. As I mentioned at the meeting, there is absolutely no way to make this decision without impact, but we can make a decision that will reduce the impact as much as possible. That’s what I look at in my decision-making process.”

Kelly said he is concerned that the district is considering closing some of its most successful programs and sites.

“I believe this was a mistake,” he said. “Prestwood has historically been the City of Sonoma’s first elementary school; Sassarini initially served as an expansion to accommodate a larger student population. Although the city’s current student numbers do not justify maintaining both schools, bringing Sassarini back into Prestwood may be a more viable approach.

“Similarly, Flowery, once considered a struggling school, has been revitalized with a dual immersion program that has been successful for years. Its location in the heart of the Spanish-speaking community is integral to the program’s success. “Moving it elsewhere would undermine its progress and disrupt a well-established community.”

Kelly said concerns expressed about the state of Flowery’s facilities reflect historical funding inequities rather than the value of the program or the dedication of its community.

Kelly said that if the board closes Prestwood, it is essential to ensure that educational services at the facility continue.

“For example, the district should consider connecting with Sonoma Charter School to explore whether it could offer programs in Prestwood while maintaining its role as an educational hub in the community,” he said. “Overall, the community wants less change than is currently being considered, and the district should respect that sentiment in its decision-making process.”