East San Jose school district buys campus amid deficit

One East San Jose school district is purchasing a vacant school after closing six campuses this year due to a multimillion-dollar deficit.

Alum Rock Union School District is using $5 million from Measure S funds, a bond passed by voters in 2022 for school improvements, to purchase the former Downtown College Prep Alum Rock Charter School at 2888 Ocala Ave. The charter school, which leased the land from the district in 2014 and constructed the middle school, closed this year. The district requires additional space, as the closure of Joseph George Middle School resulted in full capacity at Ocala Middle School. The 37,295-square-foot school will provide the district with 14 classrooms, computer labs, a warming kitchen and its first gymnasium in the entire district of 13 schools.

The board of trustees unanimously approved the sale Sept. 11. The district is expected to close the deal during the second week of November.

David Williams, a district wrestling and cross country coach, is excited for students to be able to play basketball and volleyball on a wooden surface. He said it would allow the district to host tournaments, bringing the students a sense of pride.

“I’ve been waiting on this one forever. Our kids deserve that opportunity,” he said at the meeting.

District spokesperson Sergio Diaz Luna said building an equivalent facility would cost $10 million to $15 million.

“For $5 million, approximately 50 cents on the dollar of original construction cost, the district is providing immediate educational enhancements for students,” he told San José Spotlight. “The purchase also doesn’t impact the general fund as funding comes from bond Measure S.”

Facing a $20 million deficit and declining enrollment, the Alum Rock Union School District board voted in December 2024 to shutter half a dozen schools for the 2025-26 school year. It will reopen one in 2026-27 and close two more. 

Trustee Minh Pham said the district lacked enough revenue in the budget and reserves to keep the schools open and meet the Santa Clara County Office of Education‘s criteria for budget approval. He said the entire Alum Rock community could take advantage of the gym.

“Measure S and all school bond funds cannot be used for ongoing operations, but only to build, augment or renovate school facilities,” Pham told San José Spotlight. “The former DCP charter middle school is on district land already. This gets Alum Rock additional space for our kids and a new ready-to-use facility.”

Veronica Talton, a visual and performing arts teacher at Ocala Middle School, looks forward to the district’s expansion. She said the middle school’s band, choir, piano and drumline sharing classroom space is problematic.

“It would be very beneficial for us to have separate spaces for every single class,” she said at the meeting.

Trustee Corina Herrera-Loera said securing the site presented a timely opportunity and strategic investment, compared to the lengthy process of  reopening a closed campus or undertaking major renovations that would add construction costs and approval processes.

“The site already has the infrastructure in place to serve students and relieve pressure on surrounding schools,” she told San José Spotlight.

Contact Lorraine Gabbert at [email protected].