Sonoma Valley Unified School District Middle School Closure and Consolidation
Summary
SCH Number
2025010274
Public Agency
Sonoma Valley Unified School District
Document Title
Sonoma Valley Unified School District Middle School Closure and Consolidation
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
1/9/2025
Document Description
The Sonoma Valley Unified School District proposes the closure of Adele Harrison Middle School, located at 1150 Broadway, and the consolidation of its operations with Altimira Middle School, located at 17805 Arnold Drive. This decision is driven by a significant decline in enrollment at both schools. Enrollment at Adele Harrison Middle School has decreased from 415 students in the 2015-16 academic year to 336 in 2024-25. Similarly, enrollment at Altimira Middle School has steadily declined, with the current enrollment at 323 students in 2024-25.
While past enrollment at Altimira demonstrates the ability to accommodate additional students, with a historical peak of 1,197 students in 1998-99, the school currently has a capacity of 612 students. Assuming the 2024-25 enrollment of both schools (Adele Harrison with 336 students and Altimira Middle School with 323 students) is consolidated into one campus, the combined enrollment would exceed Altimira's capacity by 47 students. However, the District owns land immediately adjacent to Altimira Middle School, which was previously used for a charter school that has closed. This land includes empty classrooms that are available to the Altimira campus to address excess capacity. Alternatively, Altimira could add portable classrooms, with fewer than 10 additional units required to accommodate the consolidation.
In either case, the consolidation would not result in an increase of more than 25 percent of the original capacity of the campus or by more than 10 classrooms. Therefore, the proposed consolidation is feasible and can be implemented without significant alterations to the existing campus infrastructure.
Contact Information
Name
Jeanette Rodriguez-Chien
Agency Name
Sonoma Valley Unified School District
Job Title
Superintendent
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Sonoma
Counties
Sonoma
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Arnold Drive & Altimira Circle
Zip
95476
Parcel #
133-150-053
State Highways
SR 121; SR 12
Railways
N/A
Airports
N/A
Schools
Altimira Middle School
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1; California Code of Regulations, Article 19, section 15301
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project involves the closure of Adele Harrison Middle School and the consolidation of its operations into Altimira Middle School, with the possible addition of up to 10 portable classrooms.
The proposed project qualifies for this exemption, even with the addition of up to 10 portable classrooms.
The consolidation would not result in an increase of more than 25 percent of the original capacity of the campus or by more than 10 classrooms. Therefore, the proposed consolidation is feasible and can be implemented without significant alterations to the existing campus infrastructure.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 2; California Code of Regulations, Article 19, section 15302
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project involves the closure of Adele Harrison Middle School and the consolidation of its operations into Altimira Middle School, with the possible addition of up to 10 portable classrooms.
The proposed project may qualify for this exemption if portable classrooms are necessary and they are replacing existing structures.
The consolidation would not result in an increase of more than 25 percent of the original capacity of the campus or by more than 10 classrooms. Therefore, the proposed consolidation is feasible and can be implemented without significant alterations to the existing campus infrastructure.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 3; California Code of Regulations, Article 19, section 15303
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project involves the closure of Adele Harrison Middle School and the consolidation of its operations into Altimira Middle School, with the possible addition of up to 10 portable classrooms.
The proposed project qualifies for this exemption, even with the addition of up to 10 portable classrooms.
The consolidation would not result in an increase of more than 25 percent of the original capacity of the campus or by more than 10 classrooms. Therefore, the proposed consolidation is feasible and can be implemented without significant alterations to the existing campus infrastructure.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 11; California Code of Regulations, Article 19, section 15311
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project involves the closure of Adele Harrison Middle School and the consolidation of its operations into Altimira Middle School, with the possible addition of up to 10 portable classrooms.
The proposed project qualifies for this exemption, even with the addition of up to 10 portable classrooms.
The consolidation would not result in an increase of more than 25 percent of the original capacity of the campus or by more than 10 classrooms. Therefore, the proposed consolidation is feasible and can be implemented without significant alterations to the existing campus infrastructure.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 14; California Code of Regulations, Article 19, section 15314
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project involves the closure of Adele Harrison Middle School and the consolidation of its operations into Altimira Middle School, with the possible addition of up to 10 portable classrooms.
The proposed project qualifies for this exemption, even with the addition of up to 10 portable classrooms.
The consolidation would not result in an increase of more than 25 percent of the original capacity of the campus or by more than 10 classrooms. Therefore, the proposed consolidation is feasible and can be implemented without significant alterations to the existing campus infrastructure.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 22; California Code of Regulations, Article 19, section 15322
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project involves the closure of Adele Harrison Middle School and the consolidation of its operations into Altimira Middle School, with the possible addition of up to 10 portable classrooms.
The proposed project qualifies for this exemption, even with the addition of up to 10 portable classrooms. Although the project would change student transportation, it does not change the grade structure of Altimira Middle School.
The consolidation would not result in an increase of more than 25 percent of the original capacity of the campus or by more than 10 classrooms. Therefore, the proposed consolidation is feasible and can be implemented without significant alterations to the existing campus infrastructure.
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, Article 18, section 15282(i)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project involves the closure of Adele Harrison Middle School and the consolidation of its operations into Altimira Middle School, with the possible addition of up to 10 portable classrooms.
The proposed project qualifies for this exemption, even with the addition of up to 10 portable classrooms.
The consolidation would not result in an increase of more than 25 percent of the original capacity of the campus or by more than 10 classrooms. Therefore, the proposed consolidation is feasible and can be implemented without significant alterations to the existing campus infrastructure.
County Clerk
Sonoma
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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