I grew up in South Boulder and attended Mesa. It was my absolute favorite school experience of any time in my education. There were only two classes per grade, it is absurd that there should need to be any more. One would have been just fine! The small class sizes allow kids to thrive. Close a room if you need to, not a whole school. For years, it was also the heart of my community: where I met friends, where my parents developed friendships, where I played on the weekends and sled in the winter. Closing Mesa will be killing the heart of a community. Worse, it directs the neighborhood to become more hostile to families, and would only increase the problem of families not choosing Boulder or specific neighborhoods. Boulder’s demographics are aging? That may be a policy choice as much as a global trend. Policy makes a difference in the makeup of a community. Having recently moved back to South Boulder, my hope was to have my son go to Mesa and attend BVSD. The idea that Mesa would be consolidated into Bear Creek, with large class sizes, overly busy playgrounds, and nightmare traffic, is a big turn off. My husband and I are looking where to move next in the area. Honestly, this proposal has me doubting BVSD and its commitment to children and families in Boulder. I think if BVSD committed itself to the existing schools, and did whatever it needed to do to keep them open, that would be a positive sign to future families that this is the right school district for us.