Feb 3, 2004

Public meeting generates animosity regarding school closures

By Carol Rosen
Editor

The first public meeting held since San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD) announced school closures on Jan. 21 was anything but a quiet, reserved tea party. Feelings ran high and many parents were quite vocal in their feelings about the unfairness that their children’s schools should close.

One noisy group of parents noted that their school has a special program. It shouldn’t close, they insisted. Instead the district should close Willow Glen Elementary, which had been on the long list the task force presented to the board of education. Other parents and teachers said they understood the need for closure, but wanted an explanation about what they were supposed to do.

No new boundary lines have been announced at present, although there are indications that some tentative redistricting is in the works. One Erickson Academy teacher indicated that about two-thirds of that school’s students, those living south of Highway 85, will be attending Allen, while the other third—or those living north of Highway 85 will attend Terrill.

SJUSD explanations
The district used the first half-hour of the meeting to provide some details about the changes in boundaries for the schools that are affected. The board also provided some comments about the selection process and why these three schools were singled out.

Erickson and Hester have had over 17 percent lower enrollment over the last few years and the trend continues to fall. In addition, the district will have to bus fewer students when they are transferred to new schools. The need to meet voluntary integration goals was mentioned for Hammer.

The next 90 minutes was given over to parents and speakers from the schools. Each speaker got two minutes; each school

took turns with five speakers and when the initial 15 were complete they started over again. At about 8 p.m. the district wrapped up the meeting and noted that it would address all concerns in writing by the Feb. 12 board meeting.

Probably the most vocal parents were from Hammer, the Montessori magnet school. They complained that the district is limiting kindergarten classes to two from five and strongly demanded the district commit to the Montessori program. They want to keep their principal and they want details of how the Montessori program will work as a school-within-a school.

While nothing is committed to stone, it does not appear that the school board will change its mind during the next hearing scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 3. However, they still have a month for planning and discussion before the final announcement on March 4.

Closure announcements
SJUSD’s plans to close Hester, Hammer and Erickson Elementary Schools at the end of this school year were announced Jan. 21, following several months of rumors and speculation about which schools would be closed. A task force of 21 people, including teachers, parents and administrators, looked at demographics, declining enrollments, transportation and other issues as determinants.

The closure announcement followed a hectic week with heightened rumors about a long list from the task force containing 11 of the district’s 31 elementary schools. That list was not made public. But worries, especially in Willow Glen and Almaden, prompted many parents to write letters to district and board officials requesting neighborhood schools not be closed.

“While closing schools is necessary due to declining enrollment and a serious budget shortfall in the state, we recognize that this is very hard on our impacted families and school staffs. Our commitment is to do everything to make the transition as smooth as possible,” said Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Linda Murray.

The school closures are important, according to the district, to cut administrative overhead. School board officials stressed that the closure would not take anything away from the education program. The consolidations are designed to preserve the district’s instructional program; they are not expected to result in a loss of teachers. There will be a reduction in force based on seniority, according to one school official, but teacher and administrative attrition will be taken into consideration.

The district expects fewer administrative positions next year, both at the school and district levels. This depends on a number of factors, according to school board staff, but since no students will be lost, teachers are needed.

Not selling schools
SJUSD hopes to rent the properties out, none will be sold, according to school officials including Gerald Matranga, associate superintendent. He projects the savings from closing the schools to be about $400,000 to $450,000 per school.

“There’s nothing to make us sell from a [district] staff perspective. A committee will make recommendations to the board. But given the fact that the district will be here for a long time, [we need to hold on to the property]. Once we sell a school, it’s gone and being able to reclaim that property is very hard,” Matranga said.

So far the district has made no plans to rent the schools because they were not sure which ones would be closed. It currently is leasing three schools: Henderson, old Hacienda and 250 Stockton, Matranga said. It receives about $1.2 million per year from those three leases.

That money is used to “retire long term debt for school construction and modernization,” said Matranga. “The rent and development fees enable us to meet our long term debt obligations. We don’t use any money from our general funds to retire long-term debt. That’s why we have such a high AA credit rating.”

It is difficult to say without any analysis or competitive bids or proposals what kind of income the district will receive from any alternate usage, he added, although he suggested that leases could generate several hundreds of thousands of dollars per school site.

“Schools don’t follow normal trend lines. They are embedded in the residential community. I can’t predict what we will do, but we have to look at a number of things. For example, there are child care providers currently paying rent to use these [school] sites,” and they have to be taken into consideration, Matranga said.
Many factors in leasing consideration

It doesn’t appear that the district is in a big hurry to lease the three schools as yet. Until the schools are leased, Matranga said that the district must keep up the grounds and maintain the buildings. The projected savings of $400,000-450,000 does not include any maintenance money, he said.

“Typically as a district we look at ways to maintain typical uses,” said Matranga. “These are taken into consideration before it is leased for an alternate use. We make sure the use is compatible with the neighborhood.”

However, he emphasized that the district would ensure the rentals allowed for continued community uses of the grounds. This would include such activities as farmers’ markets, community activities and various sports activities.