Tennille Burton’s son, Miles, is a second-grader in the Kyrene Elementary School District.

He has been attending Kyrene de la Manitas Innovation at 201 W Courtney Lane in Tempe, a kindergarten through eighth-grade campus, since 2023.

Miles and other students at Manitas are operating an innovative learning model that promotes collaboration, social skills, and a creative environment where students and teachers can learn with one another.

“They build these relationships early and feel more part of the school than I’ve seen before,” said Emily Yen, also a Manitas parent of a preschooler and first-grader.

Because of the program, Burton, Yen and other parents have grown concerned with the abruptness of the closures planned within the district.

Manitas is one of the seven schools proposed to

See Full Page