The plan to close Dunbar School and Heard School has drawn opposition from parents and community members. The district says it's best for students.

One parent, Nancy Zuniga, said it took a long time for her 7-year-old autistic son to get used to Heard; she began taking him as a baby to volunteer while her older children attended the school.

The Phoenix Elementary School District is facing declining enrollment and a potential budget deficit. The district proposed closing two schools, Heard School and Dunbar School, to address the ...