Roncalli STEM Academy is officially closing after this school year. Here's what comes next
A 3-2 vote by the Pueblo School District 60 Board of Education will close Roncalli STEM Academy after the 2023-24 school year.
The board also approved new middle school boundaries that will make Pueblo Academy of Arts the neighborhood school for students currently residing in Roncalli's attendance area. Roncalli neighborhood families who wish to attend a school other than PAA must submit a school choice application by 4 p.m. on May 3, 2024.
Roncalli's closure was decided at an April 18 board meeting. Issues plaguing the almost 60-year-old facility's HVAC system were previously highlighted on March 18, when Pueblo D60 staff recommended that the board explore the closure of the school.
"I'm glad the school community has a clear answer and that we have a lot of work to do to take care of all the kids and staff," Roncalli Principal Michael Cservenak told the Chieftain following the board's vote to officially close the school.
Board directors Kathy DeNiro and Brian Cisneros voted against closing Roncalli. DeNiro told those in attendance at Thursday's meeting that her vote "may be symbolic in nature," as she believes critical facility issues at Roncalli should have been announced by the district sooner and more publicly.
"This board was first publicly informed about this critical issue on March 6... the March 6 meeting was done in a board retreat," DeNiro said. "While that may have been open to the public per se, there was no mention of it on the meeting agenda that would provide notice to parents, students, staff, or community."
However, board director Dennis Maes said he was satisfied with the district's response to facility issues at the South Side middle school. Maes, Susan Pannunzio and Bill Thiebaut were the three board directors to vote in favor of closing Roncalli.
"I value the work that (Pueblo D60 Executive Director of Facilities Bob Lawson) and his team have done," Maes said. "I do not believe that they would be sitting around waiting for children to be damaged and hurt either physically or emotionally by not addressing these particular issues."
With PAA becoming the new neighborhood school for students living in the old Roncalli boundaries, the district plans to relocate STEM programs and materials currently housed at Roncalli to PAA, according to Ted Johnson, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning services for Pueblo D60.
Roncalli students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) will be relocated with consideration of their individual needs and addresses. Families can expect to receive calls from case managers "as soon as possible," according to a Pueblo D60 news release.
A closure plan for Roncalli presented by Pueblo D60 administrative staff at the April 18 meeting highlights additional plans for communication, exceptional student service support, staff relocation plans, student enrollment, student transition and transportation.
A recording of the full April 18 board meeting can be viewed at vimeo.com/event/4226032. Roncalli families opting to participate in the district's school choice process can submit an application at pueblod60.org/site/default.aspx?PageID=3498.
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Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: What Roncalli student families should know as middle school set to close
