Don’t close Carneros Elementary School. That was the message from many of the 100 or so residents who came out to a special Napa Valley Unified School District meeting Wednesday night at Harvest Middle School.

School officials called the meeting to draw public input about the district’s Program and Facilities Master Plan. If the plan is approved by the school board, the district could close and consolidate schools and make changes in elementary school attendance boundaries. It could also convert a handful of the district’s existing campuses to magnet schools, which are known for attracting students with specialized courses or curriculum.

The long-term plan would unfold in phases, between 2010 and 2020.

Meanwhile, the district is considering adding campuses in areas expected to grow, including southeast and northeast Napa.

Superintendent John Glaser told the audience that in light of ongoing cuts to public education, there is a “huge financial interest driving (the) master plan.”

Breaking into five discussion groups Wednesday, parents voiced concerns and questions about the master plan. English- and Spanish-speakers  asked how students will be bussed to another school if their campus closes, what would happen to any closed school buildings and whether the district can close Carneros, given that Measure M dollars paid for its construction.

Parents also asked why the school district did not consider making Carneros Elementary School a magnet campus, instead putting the school on the list of possible campus closures. Although the school board has not finalized any decision, Capell Valley, Carneros and Wooden Valley elementary schools may be shuttered at the end of this academic year.

Rigo Ortega said his daughter thrives at Carneros and that the campus is “like a private school without the cost.” Ortega said Carneros “builds a good foundation for the kids.”

Glaser said many factors go into deciding which campuses will make the best magnet schools, including school location, where students live, how they will get to school and other components.

Sally Jensen Dutcher, the school district’s attorney, said the district considered all elementary schools with fewer than 350 students for closure. In addition to Carneros, she said, the district is also looking at closing Yountville and Mt. George elementary schools over time.

Carneros was not a magnet school candidate because of its remote location and because very few students attending the school live near the campus, she added. 

Conversely, some parents argued that Carneros is a good candidate for a magnet school because many of its students come from elsewhere. “There are a lot of us — both Anglos and Hispanics — who are out of Carneros’ district” but prefer the campus, one woman said.

“The idea that people wouldn’t make the drive out there is ludicrous,” said Curtis Smith, a Napa man with three grandchildren attending Carneros. Smith said Carneros’ staff has a history of working on a technology magnet plan, but has been “ignored” by the district.

Ernesto Castillo said he has three children attending Carneros and understands the district’s fiscal limitations in light of budget cuts. But he disagrees with the idea of closing Carneros. He said because the school’s teachers work together so effectively, they should be transferred collectively to another campus if Carneros closes.

Pending necessary funding, the district will likely make Bel Aire Elementary and Alternative School, Pueblo Vista Elementary and Alternative School and McPherson and Salvador elementary schools pilot magnet campuses.

Overall, parent groups requested more fiscal details from the district about how the master plan’s various scenarios would save money. One group requested that the district send master plan update information to Spanish-speaking households by U.S. mail. Many asked how school closures — and resulting changes in student transportation — might influence traffic.

Glaser and Dutcher said they would post answers to the questions raised at the meeting on the school district’s Web site.

District officials will hold another master plan meeting on Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Redwood Middle School, and will also discuss the plan at the regularly scheduled Dec. 10 board meeting.