Superintendent's Advisory Council

March 28, 2025

Dear Lennox Parents and Community Members,

The purpose of this communication is to provide information regarding the District’s future use of its school site facilities in response to ongoing enrollment declines.

Since the 2014-15 school year, the Lennox School District (LSD) has experienced a loss of
approximately 1,100 students. Projections indicate an additional decline of 400 students by the 2026-27 school year, bringing the total loss to approximately 1,500 students—nearly one-third of the District’s student population.

California’s overall population decline has contributed to this trend. Factors such as lower birth rates, a lack of affordable housing, homelessness, the impact of COVID-19, the growth of alternative educational options (such as charter schools and homeschooling), and more
business-friendly tax environments in states like Texas, Arizona, Idaho, and Nevada have
influenced migration patterns.

To address this challenge proactively, the District is forming a Superintendent’s Advisory
Council (SAC). This committee will serve in an advisory role to both the Superintendent and the Board of Education, with a primary focus on identifying student-centered, efficient strategies for managing and operating our school site facilities amid significant enrollment declines.

In collaboration with an outside consulting firm (MGT Consulting), the SAC will consider
several factors, but not limited to (in random order):

 

1. Safety and security	6.    Financial implications
2. Environmental concerns	7.    Class size, enrollment, and capacity
3. Ethnic balance	8.    Conditions of facilities
4. Signature programs	9.    Operational costs
5. Neighborhood schools	10.    Alternative use of facilities

 

The SAC will consist of:

 

1. Principals	4. District Administrators
2. Teachers	5. Parents
3. Classified Staff	6. Community Members

The Superintendent’s Advisory Council (SAC) will meet multiple times over the next few
months to develop a recommendation regarding the future use of school site facilities. This

recommendation will first be presented to the Superintendent and shared with the community
through town hall meetings for further input and discussion.

Following this initial review, the Superintendent will present a formal recommendation to the
Board of Education at a Special Board Meeting for final consideration. At this time, no decisions have been made, and the process remains focused on gathering input and exploring all options.

To ensure transparency and keep the community informed, the District has launched this
dedicated webpage featuring detailed information and a list of Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQs). We encourage all educational partners to stay engaged and informed throughout this
process.

We appreciate your engagement in this important conversation and will provide further updates as the SAC begins its work.

 

Respectfully,

 

Mrs. Gabriela Tavitian
Superintendent