Santa Clara County’s largest school district could close up to nine elementary schools due to declining enrollment — a game changer for the district as it redefines its future.
The San Jose Teachers Association is urging San Jose Unified School District to consider restructuring the system due to enrollment and equity issues. There are 41 schools in the district, of which 26 are elementary schools. The district formed a Schools of Tomorrow advisory committee, which completed its work last semester. A separate implementation committee will make its recommendation on closures by March 5, and the school board will make the final decision March 12.
The implementation committee — comprised of district and union representatives, teachers and parents — is tasked with choosing which schools to consolidate and where to redraw attendance boundaries and relocate special programs. It strives to provide additional resources for students, as well as balanced school sizes districtwide.
Hundreds of people, including young children, braved the cold and rain to protest their school being on the chopping block at the school district office before Tuesday’s committee meeting. The main meeting room and overflow spaces were at capacity, with many people holding signs saying “Williams: Stop the Whale Hunt,” “Simonds IS the School of Tomorrow!” and “Lowell is Where I Learn, Play and Dream.”…