Alhambra district still faces budget shortfall after decision to close two schools

PHOENIX – The Alhambra Elementary School District’s decision to close two schools won’t completely solve its budget shortfall, the Phoenix district’s superintendent said on Friday.

A day earlier, the Alhambra governing board voted to close Valencia Newcomer Academy and Choice Learning Academy after the 2025-2026 school year.

Superintendent Cecilia Maes told KTAR News 92.3 FM the action during Thursday’s meeting will save the district $1.4 million.

“The fact is, our shortfall is much greater than that. And so, we’ve looked at other creative ways of utilizing our staff, adjusting our staffing, really looking at the model as far as how many students, how many office team members does it really require?” she said.

The district loses $12,000 for every student it loses. Maes said 500 students left over the past year and enrollment declines will likely continue.

Lupe Conchas, vice president of the Alhambra governing board, said Thursday’s vote was difficult but it allows the district to remain financially stable.

“I think that there were some thoughts that, ‘What if we gave it one more year?’ What if we tried our best and did everything that we could in order to increase enrollment?” Conchas said.

What will happen to Alhambra schools that close?

Valencia Newcomer was created in 2018 as a place for immigrant and refugee students to learn English and integrate into the school system before moving to a typical school. Its closure opens up the building at 3802 W. Maryland Ave. for an expansion of the neighboring Global Academy of Phoenix.

Choice Learning Academy will be consolidated with Westwood Elementary School, turning Westwood into a K-8 location. The CLA building at 5330 N. 23rd Ave. will be repurposed. Officials are weighing making it a family resource center, health services center or alternative learning center, or some combination of those options.

Maes said although the decision was hard, the district and community were looking to the governing board to support the financial aspect of the schools.

“As emotional as it was and as much as they all spoke to that emotion, we are appreciative of the fact that they did support us,” she said.

Maes added that the changes provide the district with a K-8 option at one campus to compete against nearby K-8 charter schools.

The superintendent said the next step is to make sure staff and families know what’s going on with their jobs and children’s schooling. She said the loss of Valencia as a transitional school meant specifically for immigrant and refugee families will not negatively impact the community.

“All of our schools are prepared to welcome newcomer children,” she said.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

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