It was a deeply emotional and bittersweet night at Douglas Whited Elementary Charter School in Santa Rosa, as the campus hosted its final open house before permanently closing its doors next month.
The Press Democrat reports to help bridge a multi-million-dollar budget deficit, the Rincon Valley Union School District voted earlier this year to close the historic campus, sparking a mix of celebration and community grief.
The evening also marked the end of a cherished 23-year tradition for first-grade teacher Molly Rhodes, whose family has hand-crafted custom wooden student statues for over two decades. Parents and alumni packed the campus to exchange memories, collect final student artwork, and say goodbye to the century-old school community.
In the fall, remaining students and staff will be reassigned to other schools across the district.