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Florence Unified Board Votes to Close Three San Tan Valley Schools, Relocate a Fourth
The Florence Unified School District governing board voted unanimously to close Copper Basin Elementary, Skyline Ranch Elementary and San Tan Middle School, all in fast-growing San Tan Valley, citing a 14% enrollment drop over four years and a $5 million deficit. The district expects to save $4 million, but board members acknowledge more schools will likely be needed later.
The Florence Unified School District governing board voted unanimously this week to close three schools and relocate a fourth, a decision that will affect hundreds of families in San Tan Valley and reshape how the district serves one of Pinal County's fastest-growing communities.
All five board members backed the plan to shutter Copper Basin Elementary School, Skyline Ranch Elementary School and San Tan Middle School. Florence Middle School will move into a newer building. District officials estimate the consolidation will save about $4 million.
The closures come despite San Tan Valley's rapid population growth. All three schools slated to close are located in the community, a fact that has left some residents questioning how a district can shrink its footprint while the surrounding area expands.
District leaders pointed to declining enrollment and a budget shortfall as the driving forces. Enrollment is down 5% this year and 14% over the past four years, according to district figures. State auditor general data show expenditures have continued to climb, and the district began tapping capital funds to cover day-to-day operations in 2023. The same data reveal a $5 million budget deficit.
School board Vice President Megan Weagant said the decision weighed on her long before the vote.
"It's been weighing very heavily on my mind for many months," Weagant said during the board's November meeting, shortly before the vote.
The financial pressure was not unexpected. Board members first discussed possible cuts at an October 2025 meeting, where a speaker warned of the consequences if voters rejected two revenue measures.
"If we don't pass the land sale or the bond, then we're going to have to make some really tough choices," the speaker said at that meeting.
In November 2025, district voters approved the sale of two unneeded properties to raise money. But they rejected a bond measure that would have funded building repairs, leaving the district without a key source of capital for maintenance.
The auditor general has classified Florence Unified as high risk, though it is not among the state's highest-risk districts.
Board members acknowledged the apparent contradiction of closing schools in a growing area, saying they expect the district will need more schools in the future. For now, they said, the priority is stabilizing the district's finances.
The closures will take effect as families in San Tan Valley grapple with longer commutes, redistricting and uncertainty about where their children will attend school next year. The district has not yet released detailed transition plans for affected students and staff.