As a member of the Santa Rosa school board, and an elementary school parent in the district, I share the community’s concerns regarding the recent school consolidation decision. The board’s decision was not made lightly and comes after lengthy deliberation and consideration.

Sonoma County is experiencing the same demographic shift as the rest of California, with fewer school-aged children and an aging population. Further, the expiration of one-time funds from fire recovery and COVID-19 relief means we must make difficult choices to ensure long-term fiscal stability of Santa Rosa City Schools. Consolidation allows us to eliminate duplication of staff and allocate resources more efficiently, while preserving and adding new programs that will attract and retain students, providing them with a high-quality education and a sense of belonging.

The most significant change is the phased transition to comprehensive 7-12 high school campuses. Research consistently shows that transitioning between schools negatively impacts academic achievement, especially for boys. The more transitions a student experiences, the higher their risk of dropping out. A 7-12 grade configuration results in the lowest dropout rates as students have more time to acclimate to the high school environment.

Schools with more grades and fewer students per grade, as compared to the “super” consolidation options, tend to have better academic achievement. This is because smaller learning environments, even on larger campuses, often provide more individualized support to students. Also, schools with longer grade spans allow for more collaboration among teachers across grade levels, resulting in better alignment of curriculum.

Additionally, the 7-12 model has been shown to have higher student engagement, lower prevalence of teasing and bullying and more defined disciplinary structures supporting a safer environment.

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Across all this research, the key to success lies in the quality of execution. We are fortunate to have dedicated and qualified teachers. By integrating seventh and eighth graders into the high school environment, we can create a stronger sense of community and offer superior continuity of education and enrichment programs.

To make this transition successful, we must invest in programs that give students a reason to be excited about school. This includes implementing freshman sports teams, as well as expanding ties with sports offerings in seventh and eighth grades. We must also strengthen the connectivity of our career technical education, music, arts and performance programs across the secondary campuses, providing younger students with a clear vision of their future paths.

As an example, combining the expansion of middle school sports with development of freshman teams will be a significant investment in students’ academic journey. Increased participation in middle school athletics can lead to higher attendance rates in seventh and eighth grade and better retention rates in high school.

When middle schoolers practice and play on the same fields as high schoolers, they become familiar with the environment, easing their transition to high school and reducing anxiety. Early exposure to sports also allows these students to understand coaching expectations, team culture and strategy styles, boosting their confidence when they eventually join high school teams. The longer interaction between middle school athletes and coaches fosters stronger relationships, allowing coaches to better understand individual strengths and weaknesses and adapt their coaching strategies accordingly.

This same connectivity can be applied to all our enrichment and campus culture programs.

The school district is charged with education and enrichment of our community’s children. As we move through this change, we must focus on what we are uniquely responsible for providing to the community.

The tragedies our community has endured, including the deaths from drugs and violence, underscore a pervasive lack of safety and security for youth in our community. These issues are communitywide and cannot be solved solely by the school district. By diverting resources from education and enrichment, we weaken the ability of schools to provide the long term benefit that comes from quality academic and enrichment programs.

We must support those agencies and organizations best positioned to serve the mental health, safety, and security needs of our youth throughout our community. This includes implementing the school resource officer pilot program, embracing the city of Santa Rosa’s New Hope for Youth outreach team and empowering Sonoma County, the city and the robust network of community organizations that serve Santa Rosa’s youth to provide their services on our campuses.

I understand that change can be unsettling. By focusing our schools on the education and enrichment of our students, we can create a brighter future each and every youth in Santa Rosa.

Nick Caston is a member of the Santa Rosa School Board, representing Trustee Area 1.

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