Prepared remarks for the October 26 School Board meeting
Community submissions reflect their authors’ views. Wording is reproduced from the supplied document; claims have not been independently verified. The source describes planned talking points. This is not a verified transcript of remarks delivered at the meeting.
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I plan to speak and sharing my talking points below for any pointers/feedback:
"Good evening. I'm Liz Edmondson, a Moorlands parent. I'm here to ask for evidence and to offer our help.
Moorlands is the only school in all three closure scenarios. It has 440 resident students, more than Sunrise, Hollywood Hill, or Cottage Lake, and within the 400-to-700 range the district itself calls healthy. So why Moorlands?
The district's rationale is a rebuild: Moorlands needs one, and Arrowhead has more room. That's a capital decision, not just an enrollment one. What would an Arrowhead rebuild cost, and what funds it? Was a Moorlands-site modernization modeled? And what are the 'other uses' for the Moorlands property?
The money matters too. The General Fund grew from about $404.5 million in 2020-21 to $464.4 million in 2025-26, with nearly $499 million in revenue projected next year. Voters renewed the operating levy in February. With fewer students and more dollars, why aren't we lowering class sizes? If schools close, where do the savings go?
Board policy requires a written analysis of closure that includes finances, transportation, displacement, and building condition. Please publish it for Moorlands, with a side-by-side comparison to a Moorlands-open option.
The plan also splits our neighborhood between two schools, roughly 233 students to Arrowhead and 203 to Woodmoor. Your own guiding principles say to keep neighborhood students together and protect continuity.
Here's what that means for my family. I have two children with special needs: ADHD and possible autism. When we struggled to get support at daycare, Moorlands' psychologist reached out to the daycare personally to offer support. The staff guided us through assessments and options between IEP and a 504. We ultimately opted to choose 504 because of the seasoned teachers and thoughtful support we receive at moorlands. Every year the teachers and staff help ensure my kids get the support they need, update our plan and brief the next teacher so there’s continuity. That's why we chose public school. For kids like mine, those relationships are the support system, and a map can't move them.
Our families bring professional expertise, volunteer time, and financial support. We want to work with you to find a way to keep Moorlands open. Please share these analyses well before the February 22 first read. Thank you."