Hundreds of North San Jose parents, students and teachers are joining forces to fight school closures in their community.
The Berryessa Union School District board met Tuesday night to discuss the potential closure of three schools due to declining enrollment and decreased federal and state dollars. The schools on the chopping block have not been finalized, but could be a combination of two elementary schools and one middle school, or two elementary schools and another merged with a middle school, or closing three elementary schools. None of the suggestions appeased any of the families whose children will be affected by the final decision being made on Dec. 18.
Toyon Elementary School parent Dulce Valencia, whose school could be slated for closure, said the Title 1 school is a community hub, place of growth and development and a safe home away from home.
“Closing Toyon Elementary would mean disrupting the lives of these children who have worked so hard to gain the trust and strong bonds with their teachers, friends and importantly, the help that they need,” she told the board. “We must consider the broader impacts … on families and communities, but mostly, our students.”
The elementary schools recommended for closure in ranked order include Cherrywood, Toyon, Laneview, Summerdale and Ruskin. The middle schools include Sierramont, Piedmont and Morrill. Rather than closing a middle school, the committee suggested converting Sierramont or Piedmont to a TK-8 school.
Trustees expressed concerns regarding Title I schools — which get federal financial help to assist students who are behind or at risk of falling behind academically — and the Mandarin Dual Immersion Program at Cherrywood Elementary School, which draws families districtwide.
Parent Divya Krishnan said Cherrywood’s dual immersion program can’t be easily transferred to another school.
“All the hard work the staff, the community have put into the program is being taken for granted,” she told San José Spotlight.
Superintendent Roxane Fuentes said the district wants to keep students at the forefront in making these difficult decisions.
“We challenged our (consolidation) committee to think of ways we might be able to expand learning opportunities for our children,” she said at the meeting. “Reduced revenue at our sites is already impacting our students with (grade) combination classrooms and with reduced elective offerings.”
A consolidation committee assembled in April released a report this month ranking five elementary and three middle schools for closure consideration. Criteria included school demographics and capacity, educational support services, finances, the condition of facilities and transportation concerns.
The district needs to reduce its operating budget by $6 million and must close three schools, Assistant Superintendent Kevin Franklin said.
“We understand how difficult and challenging this process is for our entire community. School closures are an action of last resort, that we take very seriously,” Franklin told San José Spotlight. “The district remains committed to supporting our Berryessa community throughout this transition.”
But parent Phuong Nguyen said the board isn’t listening to the community.
“The community does not want the schools to close,” she told San José Spotlight. “Closing schools should not be the first answer to their financial crisis. They’re not putting our students’ needs first.”
California public schools have experienced declining enrollment due to low birth rates, higher cost of living and families moving out of the area or state. The district has to balance the budget and provide a well-rounded education for all students, Franklin said.
The North San Jose school district isn’t the only district struggling with these problems. In East San Jose, the Alum Rock Union School District is also looking to close seven schools and consolidate several others. It’s facing a $20 million budget deficit. Its enrollment has dropped from more than 10,000 students in 2015-16 to a projected 7,270 students in 2024-25.
Berryessa Union School District operates 10 elementary schools and three middle schools, serving about 6,000 students. About 45% of its student population are low socio-economic, English learners or foster youth and 12% are students with disabilities. District enrollment decreased from 7,980 students in 2012-13 to 5,940 in 2022-23 and is expected to decline to 5,254 students by 2028, the report said.
“This is an extremely difficult time for all of us,” said a Ruskin teacher, who asked for anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. “This definitely will have a massive impact on students, parents, teachers and school staff. This has caused great anxiety. There are teachers who have teamed together for over 20 years and work like an extremely well-oiled machine.”
Calling the need to close schools “one of the worst things a board can undertake,” and “an emotional journey,” Board President Jai Srinivasan said students may receive more opportunities in the future.
“Let’s make sure all current and future students of the Berryessa community receive a quality education,” he said.
Contact Lorraine Gabbert at lorrainegabbert@[email protected]
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