ACUSD Approves Consolidation

Consolidation received approval from ACUSD’s Board Wednesday night. Following several years of reports and planning, the board approved the plans to move all 7th to 9th graders onto Argonaut High School’s campus and all 10th through 12th grades to Amador High’s campus. The board heard speakers throughout the community, including teachers, Jackson Mayor Chad Simmons, and Ione Council Member Jack Mitchell, many who disagreed with the plans. Final confirmations on traffic impacts and environmental reporting were presented to the board, showing no significant or unavoidable impacts were discovered. Superintendent Jared Critchfield painted the big picture of how the plan addresses needs for current student populations and that declining enrollment factoring into the plan, with grades 5 and under showing no class size over 300, where previous years over half of all grades each carried over 300 students in size. Critchfield also dissected the numbers associated with potential growth for Ione’s population not expected to materialize for several years. Passing a bond measure to ease financial stress is not on the table, per Critchfield who stated two failed previous bonds and a larger population of retiree voters not invested in the education meant it would be like banging his head against the wall to even assume another attempt would pass. The vote was approved 4 to 1, with the lone dissent of Trustee James Marzano stating he was in favor of consolidation just not how it was being done. Board President Kayla Parker shared her reasons for approval were directed at the responsibility to future students far outweighs the attachment to how things have always been done and coupled with the recently reported low test scores which play a factor in Amador’s Schools ranking 54th out of 58 counties for reading and math. With consolidation approved by the board, a Notice of Determination will be filed with the state and plans will move forward.

Written by Melissa Ray