East San Jose district could close nearly half its schools

An East San Jose school district plans to close numerous campuses due to an enormous budget deficit.

An Alum Rock Union School District committee is recommending closing 13 of its 21 schools due to declining student enrollment with families moving out of the area, lower birth rates and a steady loss of students to charter schools. On top of that, the loss of temporary COVID relief funds leaves the district with a $20 million budget deficit.

The school district has a population of about 8,000 students. Its schools recommended for closure or consolidation include: Aptitud, Cassell, Cesar Chavez Learning Center, Cureton, Joseph George, Hubbard, Linda Vista, LUCHA, Lyndale, Meyer, Painter, Renaissance at Fischer and Renaissance at Mathson.

“Our district funds are currently spread across school facilities that are underutilized; by reallocating our resources, we can better support essential programs that foster academic and personal growth for all our students,” Superintendent Germán Cerda said in a letter sent to the school community on Thursday.

Cerda said he’ll recommend closing eight schools and consolidating two based on committee input, as well as feedback from discussions and town hall meetings with families in the district. He plans to share his picks on Nov. 4 and present his recommendations to the board of trustees Nov. 14. The board will make the final decision on Dec. 2, with closures taking effect in the 2025-26 school year.

“This is not a final list. It still has to go to the board,” Trustee Minh Pham told San José Spotlight, adding there is a possibility to close fewer schools by reducing administration at the district office. “There are inefficiencies at the district office that we need to look at, with an eye toward protecting as many schools as possible, protecting as many special programs as possible and protecting the kinds of facilities that allow us to offer more programs than charter schools like music, athletics, career technical electives, as well as special education.”

ARUSD Board President Linda Chávez agreed with Pham’s assesssment. 

“It is premature information,” Chávez told San Jose Spotlight. “We, the five Trustees will be making the final decisions and the recommendations are just that, ‘just recommendations.'”

Pham said the projected budget deficit requires a shared sacrifice by the beleaguered school district.

“Every part of the district will need to pitch in so that all parts of the district make it out in one piece,” he said. “My eye has always been foremost the protection of student’s families and those who serve Alum Rock. Kids and schools come first.”

As a state funded district, fewer students equate to fewer state dollars for local education, Pham said. He said the inequality in state funding hurts districts like Alum Rock.

“Nobody wants to close schools,” Cerda told San José Spotlight. “It breaks my heart. But there’s a need. We’re stretched too thin. We’re good for the next couple of years, but then we’re bankrupt.”Cerda said the committee did a good job identifying potential schools to close, reviewing multiple data points to identify under-enrolled schools that can be consolidated and programs to save. He said he’s making it a priority to improve communication with district families, which was previously lacking.

“It’s been tough. It’s a challenge,” he said. “My heart goes out to the families. We have to get through this and hopefully being leaner we can reimagine a better Alum Rock Union School District and focus on what matters most, our kids.”

Contact Lorraine Gabbert at [email protected].