Enrollment in Los Angeles schools has taken another steep dive — about 4% this year — as officials press ahead with a multibillion-dollar modernization and rebuilding plan, raising questions about investing in campuses that may soon be shuttered.
The school closure issue was supposed to move forward Tuesday, as the Board of Education was slated to vote on hiring a consultant to advise in that arena. But the contract was pulled from consideration at the last moment after mounting alarm among parent activists and employee groups. Instead, Supt. Andrés Chait hit the reset button with a districtwide message.
“When schools become very small, it can be harder to provide the full range of opportunities our students deserve,” Chait wrote. “That is why, over the coming weeks, we will begin a community conversation about how we can strengthen our schools and make sure every student has access to the opportunities and support they need to succeed.”…