ABC Unified committee recommends not closing schools, urges alternatives as enrollment falls

An advisory committee charged with studying declining enrollment recommended to the ABC Unified School District Board of Education that the district not close any schools at this time and instead pursue alternative strategies to address falling student counts.

"The committee recommends on a 6 to 3 vote that the district not close any school at this time," the committee chair told the board during a detailed presentation of the draft report. The committee’s recommendations included enhanced marketing and enrollment fairs, reviewing the district’s School of Choice process, prioritizing enrollment for children of staff, pursuing grants and increased volunteer use, and expanding successful programs such as dual-language immersion.

The committee chair and members described the process they followed: a series of monthly meetings beginning in May 2023, two town halls to gather community input, analysis of demographer projections and the district’s long-range facilities master plan, and the development of a criteria matrix used to identify six schools for further study. Some committee members said late appointments and an emotional public response hindered completing a final narrowed recommendation; one member said the committee "did not complete the task assigned to it by the board." Others defended the panel’s decision to recommend alternatives rather than closures.

The report drew a large public response. Parents and teachers told the board that the process had caused anxiety and diminished staff morale at schools included on the study list, and several speakers urged the board to prioritize transparency and equity if any future closures are considered. One community member said the process had already driven families away from affected schools, reducing enrollment further.

Board members debated next steps. Some argued the board should act quickly because projected enrollment losses translate into significant budget reductions; others urged a two-step approach, calling first for an information item with full supporting data and staff recommendations and then for any subsequent action. A motion to place the committee recommendation on the agenda as an immediate action item failed. The board directed staff to present an information item (the board discussed August as a target) that will include the committee’s draft report, demographic data, budget implications and staff recommendations.

What happens next: the board asked staff to return with a transparent package of data and a staff recommendation so the public can review the evidence before any formal vote. The committee’s draft and the board discussion make clear that district leaders face a choice between pursuing consolidation (which some say will be necessary if enrollment and funding decline as projected) and trying to reverse the trend through programming and outreach.

Quotes: "The committee recommends on a 6 to 3 vote that the district not close any school at this time," the committee chair said. "We have to look at long-term impact," a committee member added, while parents warned of harm to students’ well-being if closures are pursued without clearer justification.

Ending: The board did not vote to close schools at the meeting; instead it directed staff to prepare an information item for a future meeting with the evidence and a staff recommendation so trustees and the public can consider the options with full data.