School Closures Finally Go Before Board

UPDATE: KGO-TV is reporting that the board may not make a decision tonight, but instead look at other options rather than school closures. 

It’s buried there in the agenda, way down at item 13.4: School Closures.

The hotly debated, very emotional issue will finally come before the Mt. Diablo Unified School District board tonight, and the meeting has been changed to the Mt. Diablo High School gym to accommodate the crowds of parents, staff and students who will undoubtedly be on hand. The open session will begin at 7:30 p.m.

There are three scenarios on the table put forth by the school closure committee, and a fourth option suggested by Supt. Steven Lawrence.

Lawrence told the board at the Jan. 25 meeting that he would recommend closing and either or elementary schools in Concord.

In addition, he recommended the board move the Crossroads, Summit, TLC and Nueva Vista Necessary Small High School programs to the Wren Avenue or Holbrook campuses.

The original three closure scenarios are:

1: Close Glenbrook Middle School, Silverwood Elementary, and Wren Avenue Elementary, all in Concord;

2: Close Glenbrook, and Holbrook, all in Concord;

3: Close Sequoia Elementary and Middle schools, both in Pleasant Hill, and Monte Gardens Elementary, in Concord.

Tonight’s agenda can be viewed here.

There will not be a live audio cast of tonight’s meeting, but board member Gary Eberhardt said on the MDUSD blog that they are hoping that the meeting will be streamed live over the Internet there.