|
Parents in Blossom and Almaden valleys who are working to break away from the San Jose Unified School District say the district's proposal to move some of their students to a larger campus with more amenities won't alter their secession plans.
The movement to create a South Valley School District picked up steam last month after district officials recommended closing Randol and Cory elementary schools to help balance a projected $9 to $11 million shortfall for the 200506 school year. The SJUSD board approved these closures at a Feb. 3 meeting after having voted in December to shutter Steinbeck Middle School.
At the meeting, district officials outlined a plan to move students from both Randol and Allen elementary schools to the Steinbeck campus. In recommending Randol for closure, the district initially proposed transferring students who live within Randol's attendance boundaries to Allen. Superintendent Don Iglesias said both Allen staff and Randol parents voiced concerns that Allen's facilities couldn't accommodate a combined student body of 740. Steinbeck was built for 1,200 students, Iglesias added.
While proponents of the South Valley district acknowledge Steinbeck's facility is more workable than Allen for transitioning Randol students, they say the plan doesn't address the core issues they have with the SJUSD.
"I give the district credit for attempting to be creative," said Chris Brubaker, father of two Randol students and head of the secessionist movement. "But they're so committed to their closure plan, and I find I don't agree with how they're doing it."
San Jose unified officials say they are pursuing school closures in the wake of declining enrollment, which has led to a decrease in state funding. By closing Randol and Cory elementary schools and Steinbeck Middle School, district administrators expect to save an estimated $1.9 million per year. Last year the district closed three elementary schools for a savings of $1.5 million per year.
The SJUSD is anticipating a $40.9 million cumulative budget gap over the next four years.
Brubaker told the Almaden Resident he has other concerns with the Steinbeck proposal, particularly the district's idea to expand the campus to a K-8 school over time. His daughter plans to enroll at Castillero Middle School next fall, and Brubaker said he's worried that she'd automatically be routed to Steinbeck.
Iglesias said Steinbeck would be expanded internally, with the first crop of fifth-graders moving on to become the new sixth-grade class. One grade level would be added each year.
The district will survey Randol and Allen parents about their interest in the proposal, Iglesias added. "If they're not interested, it's not a go," he said.
The SJUSD board set a public hearing on the Steinbeck proposal for Feb. 17 and is scheduled to vote on the issue March 10.
Meanwhile, South Valley School District proponents continue to gather signatures on their petition to break off the 13 southernmost San Jose Unified schools. They need about 9,000 valid signatures before they can present their petition to the Santa Clara County Committee on School District Organization. More than 2,400 have signed the petition thus far.
For more information, visit www.southvalleyschools.tripod.com.
|
