📢 DCMS Families: Now Is the Time to Get Informed and Get Involved

The future of Desert Canyon Middle School is being considered as part of SUSD's Phase II recommendations, and DCMS families have an important opportunity—and responsibility—to make sure our voices are heard.  Head over to SUSD’s Let’s Talk to write an email to them about your opinion.  SUSD Let's Talk

These decisions could directly affect our children's school, commute, programs, electives, athletics, extracurricular activities, community, and overall middle-school experience. This is not the time to wait and see what happens. Please take the time to understand the proposals and proactively share your perspective with Dr. Menzel and the SUSD Governing Board.

The Three Options

OPTION A — Redfield & Laguna Merge at Cheyenne

Redfield and Laguna would close their current buildings and create a new neighborhood school at the current Cheyenne campus. Cheyenne's school-of-choice program would move to Copper Ridge, and Copper Ridge students would be zoned to the Desert Canyon campus.

For DCMS families:

• The current DCMS building would remain open.
• Copper Ridge students could become part of the DCMS community or potentially remain in the former Copper Ridge building as traditional school students.
• The Board could choose to convert DCMS into a K–8 school under one CTDS.
• Redfield and Laguna students would continue feeding into their designated middle schools, creating a split-feeder situation intended to maintain DCMS's existing culture and offerings.

OPTION B — Desert Canyon Buildings Close

Desert Canyon Elementary and Desert Canyon Middle would close, with students moving to Copper Ridge to create a new K–8 campus under one CTDS.

For DCMS families:

• The current DCMS building would close.
• Students would attend the Copper Ridge campus.
• Elementary and middle-school students would share a K–8 campus. 
• The Board could choose whether Redfield students continue feeding into the new DCMS at Copper Ridge or are redirected to Mountainside.

OPTION C — Copper Ridge & Laguna Close

Under Option C, Copper Ridge would close and its students would move to the existing Desert Canyon campus.

For DCMS families:

• The current DCMS campus would remain open.
• Copper Ridge students would be zoned to the Desert Canyon campus.
• The Board could decide whether Redfield students continue feeding into DCMS or are redirected to Mountainside.
• The Board could decide whether the current Copper Ridge zone continues feeding Chaparral or changes to Desert Mountain.
• The Board could choose to convert DCMS into a K–8 school under one CTDS.

⚠️ One Issue DCMS Families Should Pay Particular Attention To

Enrollment and feeder patterns matter.

DCMS's current Redfield feeder provides students needed to support the school's broad range of electives, athletics, extracurricular activities, Comprehensive Gifted Program (CGP) and overall middle-school model.

🗣️ Tell the Board What This Means for YOUR Family

You don't need to be an expert on district policy. You are the expert on your own family and your child's experience at DCMS. Consider sharing your perspective.

• Your personal experience matters. The Governing Board needs to hear directly from the families who will live with the consequences of these decisions.

📅 Important Dates — Please Take Action

September 8 | Governing Board Meeting | 6:00 PM | Coronado High School

Please watch this meeting, even if you cannot attend in person. The meeting will be available on YouTube by searching SUSD.  This is an important opportunity to understand how the Board is evaluating the Phase II recommendations.

September 22 | Public Hearing | 6:00 PM | Desert Mountain High School Auditorium

Please make every effort to attend. This is the opportunity for members of the public to formally address the Governing Board regarding the Phase II recommendations.

You can speak about your children, your neighborhood, your experience at DCMS, transportation, programs, athletics, extracurriculars, school culture, community, or anything else you believe SUSD should consider.

A final decision is going to be made in October.

Don't Wait Until the Decision Is Made - Your Voice Matters

Whatever your personal opinion is, please get informed and make your voice heard.

Watch the September 8 meeting. Learn what the district is proposing. Talk with your family about how each option could affect your children. Then contact Dr. Menzel and the Governing Board and share your personal perspective.

The Board will ultimately make the decision—but DCMS families have the opportunity right now to make sure the Board understands what these decisions mean for the students and families who will be directly affected.

Please stay informed. Please participate. Please speak up for DCMS.