The school board held an extended public discussion about a proposed reconfiguration of district schools that would repurpose the former Buckeye Middle School site and consolidate grade spans to create fewer TK–4 and 5–8 campuses.

Representatives of the Gateway Teachers Association endorsed the plan’s stated goals of aligning campuses to developmental needs, balancing staffing ratios and creating smoother transitions from middle to high school. A GTA representative told the board the plan “plays to the strengths of each campus and puts students, families and staff at the center.”

Parents and staff urged caution. A parent who identified herself during public comment said relationships between students and long‑standing staff are central to students’ emotional safety and asked that the district plan transitions thoughtfully to avoid harming vulnerable students. “I worry about my second grader because anxiety with transitions is huge,” she said, describing friendships and trusted staff that could be split by reassignment.

Buckeye staff and teachers raised practical concerns about instruments, band uniforms and storage, and asked how equipment and program elements would be accommodated at receiving sites. Perkins, the Buckeye music teacher, asked specifically what will happen to about 50 performance shirts and the school’s instruments and noted storage limitations at some receiving campuses.

District leaders said the reconfiguration work is being carried out with a task force that includes staff and union representatives and that the administration intends to “over‑communicate” and conduct a phased, supported rollout. District speakers said the plan aims to improve long‑term financial stability and expand access to successful programs on the Buckeye campus for more students; one district speaker said about 271 students currently lack access to certain Buckeye programs and argued reconfiguration would increase access.

Discussion vs. decisions: The item was presented as an action to authorize the superintendent to proceed with reconfiguration, and board members debated details and heard public testimony. The provided transcript records discussion and public comment and shows board members expressing support and concern, but it does not contain a clear, final roll‑call vote on the authorization within the excerpt.

Next steps: District staff said they would continue task‑force planning, communications and site‑level work to address transitions, staffing placements and community outreach before implementing changes.