The San Lorenzo Unified School District will hold an informational community meeting on the possible establishment of a consolidated magnet school for grades 6-12 from 6-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 12 in the theater at San Lorenzo High School, room M-1.
Attendees can access the event and parking from the school’s entrance on Ashland Avenue, just west of Lewelling Avenue.
The meeting will focus on a proposal, still in the developmental stages, of converting the current San Lorenzo High campus into a destination school that encompasses both middle and high school grades, possibly with an emphasis on performing, visual and digital arts. The new school also is proposed to emphasize what is known as liberatory learning, which places student inclusivity and empowerment at its core.
Arroyo High School would remain as a comprehensive high school, and Bohannon and Washington Manor middle schools would continue as grade 6-8 programs.
The new school would lead to a repurposing of the current Edendale Middle School and folding the current East Bay Arts High School, co-located with San Lorenzo High, into the new combined program.
The Sept. 12 meeting for SLZUSD families follows a similar listening session on Aug. 21 for employees of the three schools most directly affected. This second meeting is intended to focus on informing and hearing from family members.
The SLZUSD Board of Education has not made any decisions about the proposed 6-12 school or a possible timeline for its implementation. When the concept was presented to them on June 18, members asked a number of questions, including how middle school- and high school-aged students would be appropriately separated while making the most of shared facilities.
The board has scheduled a special meeting to further explore the idea at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 24 in the district Board Room, 15510 Usher St., San Lorenzo, CA 94580.