The future of our children and communities in the Morongo Basin depends on strong, accessible public schools. Recent discussions about closing as many as four elementary schools as early as Fall 2027 have raised serious concerns among parents, staff, and residents.

The neighborhood schools currently under discussion — Morongo Valley Elementary School, Landers Elementary School, Friendly Hills Elementary School, and Palm Vista Elementary School — are more than buildings. They are essential parts of our communities. They provide children with stability, support, and access to education close to home. They also serve families and neighborhoods in ways that cannot be easily replaced once a school is closed.

School closures have serious real-world consequences for children and families. They mean longer bus rides, more crowded classrooms and campuses, reduced access to support services such as ELOP, counseling, MTSS, and special education support, staff and teacher layoffs, and greater strain on daily school operations. These impacts must be fully studied and publicly explained before any recommendation is made.

Before any recommendation is made to close a school, the Morongo Unified School District must provide the public with:

1. Clear and detailed financial analysis of the need for closures
2. Full presentation of alternatives to closure, including boundary adjustments and other options
3. Public community-impact review addressing effects on students, transportation, families, staffing, and neighborhood stability
4. A platform for parents, staff, students, and residents to voice their opinions before irreversible decisions are made
    

School closure should be treated as a last resort, not a first response to district challenges.

By signing this petition, we call on Morongo Unified School District to commit to transparency, accountability, and a full public review before moving forward with any school closure recommendation.