La Fiesta Elementary Re-Opening — District Working on First Class

The school district is inviting the public to a "family fun" event to learn more about education opportunities at Cotati-Rohnert Park — specifically at La Fiesta.

Officials are still officially gaguing what a 2012-13 class will look like next school year, but the the district says there's been some interest and classes are beginning to fill up. The elementary school closed down a few years ago becasue of significant cuts to the district's budget and declining enrollment numbers.

The kid's fair and school information night invites the community to join in to discuss the following initiatives in the works: 

• Class sizes of 24 or fewer in kindergarten through second grade.
• A thematic, integrated curriculum in which students acquire skills in reading, writing and mathematics through participation in a variety of real-world projects.
• A focus on parent and community involvement.
• Enrichment opportunities such as Spanish, creek study, gardening, art and cooking.

"We're wondering if families from other parts of the district, like Hahn and Evergreen, might want to come back to their home school," said Assistant Superintenent Elizabeth Kaufman, after the district first introduced the idea. "Our goal is to listen to what the community wants."

Officials wants to attract back students who may have migrated out of the city, and from other schools within the district. Preliminary numbers show that roughly 120 kids who would be attending K-6 grades next year live in L Section and attend other schools in the district, and an additonal 98 go to other schools outside the district.

Superintendent Robert Haley said the district is still collecting information on how many students may want to attend La Fiesta, what the student-teacher ratio would be and whether or not the school would be open year-round.

Go here to listen to the full March 2013 school board meeting, where the issue was discussed.

Event details: La Fiesta Kids' Fair & School Information Night: Thursday, March 29, from 5:30-7 p.m. La Fiesta is located at 8511 Liman Way, Rohnert Park.

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