Community angered over possible Santa Rosa school closure

Plans to shut down a North Bay school brought out some angry parents Monday night, as some accused the school board of racism. 

The Santa Rosa City School District said budget cuts may force it to shut it down.

Doyle Park School has been open since 1952 and serves a large Latino student population.

Parents, teachers and community members gathered Monday night at a nearby middle school gym to talk about the fate of the elementary school and its 230 students.

The district said the school has poor test scores and declining enrollment and faced with up to $8 million in budget cuts the school may have to be shuttered.

"We have to give layoff notices by March 15th, so we can't wait," said Sharon Liddell, Superintendent of Santa Rosa City Schools. "We have to project as if what we have is what we have."

Everyone who spoke at the meeting was against the closure.

One resident said recruiting a few more students could reverse the financial drain at Doyle.

"Using some basic math it turns out that's about 40 kids. Forty extra kids go to Doyle Park and they break even," said Jenni Klose of Santa Rosa.
 
Some parents said the Latino students who have to transfer to other schools will suffer the most. 

"Whether the district cares to admit it or not this is a racial issue," said Michelle Morales of the Latino Democratic Club. "There has been white flight in many Santa Rosa city schools for years"

Amy Kittelstrom of Santa Rosa asked why there was no Spanish language program at the elementary level when Santa Rosa is the largest city north of San Francisco.

The district said Doyle Park will likely reopen as a charter school.

"The only decision that has been made is that our district authorized the French American charter to move forward in its application to the state," Liddell said.

The superintendent said more than 150 parents have signed a petition to put the French American Academy at Doyle.

That didn't impress Alfredo Sanchez of Santa Rosa.

"Just because it's the wine country, nobody has that kind of money to be speaking French and drinking French wine and going to France," he argued.

A final decision will be made February 8 or the 22 by the school board.