Three middle schools are under closure or consolidation consideration—Castillero, John Muir and John Steinbeck—and nine elementary schools, including Hacienda Science/Environment Magnet where numerous families from Willow Glen send their children, have made the list. The other eight schools being discussed are Cory, Trace, Allen, Almaden, Bachrodt, Carson, Lowell and Randol.

To balance the upcoming budget, the district is proposing to close two elementary schools and one middle school. Schools that drop below 75 percent of their enrollment capacity are candidates for closure, according to Bob Gonzales, director of student assignments for the district.

These proposed closures will save the district $1.9 million. But that will not be enough to eliminate the $9 million budget deficit facing the district for the 2005­06 school year.

Additional cuts will come from eliminating the sixth period classes at middle schools, which parents fought hard to save from the ax last year. The district will also have to increase class sizes in kindergarten through second grade; eliminate four full-time positions in the district office; implement a central kitchen; and possible other measures to balance the upcoming budget.

Iglesias said the district is also looking closely at proposing a parcel tax, which, if passed, could restore middle school's sixth period or class sizes. The district discussed these possible cuts last year during board meetings, knowing that it would be confronted with another deficit for 2005­06. The district was able to keep the cuts out of the classroom last year but may be unable to in upcoming years.

To engage the community in the school closure/consolidation process, the San Jose Unified School District Superintendent scheduled a series of neighborhood meetings, with the a districtwide meeting scheduled for the evening of Oct. 28.

During the first meeting held at Hoover Middle School on Oct.12, San Jose Unified School District Superintendent Don Iglesias told a group of more than 50 concerned residents the district is facing a shortfall of $9 million in revenue for next year's budget.

Rosemarie Pottage, director of finance for the district, pointed out that 98 percent of the district's budget is state-funded.

"If the state is not doing well, we're not doing well," Pottage said.

The district used reserved funds to balance the 2004­05 budget, but Pottage said, "that pushed the problem to 2005­06."

Since enrollment is the key factor in state funding, the district's decline of 1,500 students on the elementary level during the past five years has only aggravated the problem. The district projects the decline will continue.

Iglesias, however, said it that it is a fallacy that students are transferring to private schools. In fact, he says, enrollments are down as much as 20 percent in private schools, and most districts within Santa Clara County are also experiencing the same decline as San Jose.

"The birth rate is down and the cost of living is extreme here," Iglesias said. "We've seen a migration out of our area to areas with cheaper housing. We can't run with a deficit."

Iglesias said even with budget cuts, he and the district remain committed to student achievement, establishing a college-going culture for all students, financial stability for the district, keeping qualified personnel and making parents and the community an integral part of the process.

District staff is scheduled to make its school closures recommendations at public forums on Nov. 10 and 15, and present them to the school board on Nov. 18. Final action is expected to take place on Dec. 9.

A community meeting is scheduled for Willow Glen High School cafeteria on Oct. 28 from 4:30 to 5 p.m. That same evening a districtwide meeting is scheduled from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the district offices, 855 Lenzen Ave. For updates or additional information, visit www.sjusd.k12.ca.us or call 408.535.6000.