Superintendent Ben Shuldiner outlined the process in a Sunday message to families. District leaders plan to visit schools that may be affected from this week through early November, then hold meetings for families at potential receiving schools through mid-December. Shuldiner expects to bring a final proposal to the School Board, which would make the decision in late February or early March.

The district has not said how many schools could be involved, and Shuldiner has not released the full list of campuses under consideration. Emails sent by principals identified possible pairings involving View Ridge and Decatur elementary schools, Highland Park and Sanislo, and Montlake and Stevens. View Ridge, Highland Park and Montlake would receive students under those scenarios; no merger has been approved.

The prospect has renewed concern among families after a 2024 proposal to close four elementary schools was abandoned following strong public opposition. That plan would have consolidated Sanislo, North Beach, Stevens and Sacajawea with other schools. The district’s financial challenges have persisted: the School Board approved about $50 million in cuts this summer while facing an $87 million deficit.

Enrollment is now just under 50,000, down from about 56,000 before the pandemic. Shuldiner has said declining enrollment reflects broader forces, including falling birthrates, as well as families leaving the district for other public systems, private schools or homeschooling.

For families, the potential changes raise questions about transportation, class sizes, programs and staff. Lana Bear, Highland Park’s PTA vice president, said the district needs to be transparent, while noting that combining schools could improve access to resources. Sanislo enrolled about 120 students last year, compared with 340 at Highland Park. Bear said some Sanislo families have already moved their children to Highland Park, anticipating a possible merger. She described the prospect as “a good move” if it saves money and gives students more equal access to resources.

Shuldiner has pointed to disparities between schools, including differences in building conditions and access to specialists. He has described small schools where students are placed in split-grade classes or where a single teacher serves an entire grade, while other campuses have full-time music teachers.

The district has not clarified whether any mergers would change school attendance boundaries or what would happen to employees at a school that closes. Bear said district leaders told principals that staff at a closing school would transfer to the receiving school and remain employed for at least one school year; Shuldiner did not address staffing in his message.

Shuldiner also said families whose schools are closed would receive priority in the district’s open-enrollment lottery for option schools. The district plans to extend the transfer application window until one week after a possible School Board decision, giving affected families additional time to consider their choices.