Bethel School Board Approves Plan to Close Shasta Middle

Bethel School District officials have directed the superintendent to proceed with closing Shasta Middle School at the end of the 2025 through 2026 school year after a long range planning committee recommended the step to address the district budget shortfall. The district cited a roughly 1.8 million dollar deficit tied to declining enrollment, rising staffing costs and the end of COVID relief funding as the drivers behind the recommendation.

District estimates indicate the closure will save about 1.4 million dollars per year in general fund costs, with additional long term savings expected as the district adjusts facility and staffing allocations. Shasta enrolls about 259 students, who the district plans to absorb across the remaining middle schools using temporary portables and interior space adjustments to accommodate the increased enrollment.

Board members raised concerns during deliberations about the closure s potential impacts on specialized programs and the school community. Among the issues identified were potential disruptions to life skills programming for students receiving special education services, strains on middle school music programs, and the broader effect on community cohesion in the neighborhood served by Shasta. The district has said community meetings with affected families and staff will be scheduled to explain the transition plan and gather input on mitigation measures.

The decision is framed as part of a broader effort to stabilize the district s general fund budget, but it does not close the door on further reductions. The district warned that additional layoffs districtwide may still be necessary after the state releases its November 19 budget forecast, which could alter the district s funding outlook.

Local implications extend beyond classroom assignments. Families may face changes in school assignments and schedules, and staff will confront reassignment or potential job loss depending on how the district reallocates positions. Special education advocates and music educators will be watching how programs are preserved as the district reallocates space and resources. The use of temporary portables will be a near term response, while longer term capacity planning will be required at the remaining middle schools.

The board s action illustrates the difficult choices facing school districts statewide as federal COVID relief funds phase out and enrollment patterns shift. For Bethel residents, the next steps to watch are the schedule and content of the community meetings, the district s detailed transition plans for affected students, and the state budget forecast on November 19 that could prompt further districtwide adjustments.