At the final promotion ceremony ever held at Mountain Shadows Middle School in Rohnert Park, principal Laurie Mason on Friday encouraged her exiting eighth graders to be good traveling companions, to choose friends wisely and "please know that change happens."
"But one thing will not change," she said, voice catching, "Know that we are honored to have you in the Mountain Shadows family."
Moments later, when the last graduate had crossed the stage under gray skies and heavy mist in front of hundreds of friends and family, Mason spoke into the microphone, "You are dismissed."
And with that, Mountain Shadows, Rohnert Park's oldest middle school, was closed.
The 46-year-old middle school joins Old Adobe's Bernard Eldredge elementary school and Piner-Olivet's Piner elementary school as campuses closed for good under increasing budgetary pressure and declining enrollment.
And despite the significant cuts ranging from closed schools to shortened school years, Sonoma County schools face an additional $17.5 million in potential cuts in the 2010-11 school year.
Three districts — Cotati-Rohnert Park, Cloverdale and Healdsburg — are in negative financial status, meaning it is uncertain whether they will meet reserve and cash flow minimums this year or next.
Another five districts say they are not sure they can meet minimum financial requirements over three years: Geyserville, Forestville, Piner-Olivet, Sebastopol and West Sonoma County district.
"It's very unusual for us to have three districts in the negative," said Denise Calvert, Sonoma County Office of Education assistant superintendent.
Old Adobe officials sped up their move to close one of their five elementary campuses when the financial outlook turned decidedly darker earlier this year.
Officials there have projected a $1.6 million deficit next year and as much as $1.8 million in 2011-12. Closing Bernard Eldredge and sending its 250 students elsewhere is expected to save about $390,000 annually.
"It's really hard to know, when you have done as much shifting as we have, where you are going to end up," said Superintendent Diane Zimmerman of the financial future.
Officials there expect to lease a portion of the Bernard Eldredge campus on Maria Drive to River Montessori Charter School. The newly established dual immersion English/Spanish language program will move to Miwok Valley School.
In the Piner-Olivet district, Piner Elementary's students will be divided between Olivet School, Jack London School and Schaefer School, a move that is expected to save $200,000 annually. The district could save another $95,000 by ending rental agreements and moving Northwest Prep onto the Piner Elementary campus.
The three districts that closed campuses this year, like most districts in Sonoma County, are struggling with declining enrollment as well as a reduction in funding from Sacramento.
Sonoma County had about 74,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade in public schools eight years ago. That number has fallen to about 71,000 today, according to county figures.
In Cotati-Rohnert Park, the decline in student population has been particularly severe.
In March, the school board voted to tighten its rules on allowing students to transfer out of the district.
On Friday, an updated calculation of projected enrollment in the upcoming school year found that two fewer teachers will likely be needed at the elementary level when school starts in the fall.
District officials said that of the 29 teachers and counselors issued layoff notices this spring, all but seven are expected to have a job in the district.
But the long-term impact of steady layoffs have left a lasting impression on the district, according to Superintendent Barbara Vrankovich.
"It's important to look beyond this year," she said.
In addition, the district has made a dramatic move with its schedule to cut spending.
Five days were cut from the current and 2010-11 school years, and an additional 13 days have been cut from the schools' office staff schedule next year, according to Vrankovich.
On Friday, soon-to-be eighth grader Cooper Nicks said he is saying goodbye to Mountain Shadows with mixed emotions. He will attend Lawrence E. Jones Middle School, which retired the name of Creekside Middle School on Friday.
"It's pretty sad, seeing all of our teachers. Some of them aren't going over there," he said.
But Nicks quickly brightened and brushed off any suggestion that the kids who already attend the other middle school will be anything less than welcoming to their new classmates.
"It's bigger, so it'll be pretty amazing," he said. "I don't think it'll affect us too much. We're all friends."
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