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Facing a $9 million deficit for the 20052006 school year, the San Jose Unified School District says it has no choice but to eliminate one middle school and two elementary schools to close the budget gap. And although no Willow Glen schools were placed on the preliminary list, residents who send their children to the district's magnet schools—primarily Hacienda Environmental Science Magnet School and Castillero Middle School—fear their schools may be targeted for closure.
On Oct. 28, the district had the last of its community meetings at Willow Glen High School to discuss the budget crisis and proposed school closures with parents and concerned citizens. Then an hour and a half later a districtwide meeting was held in the Lenzen Avenue offices to recap information that was previously discussed at the five community meetings. Administrators explained the roots of the deficit and fielded questions from the audience.
One of the primary causes of the deficit, according to San Jose Unified School District Superintendent Don Iglesias, is the California budget. The district depends on state funding for 98 percent of its overall budget, he said. And public schools across California are feeling the crunch.
"The state is facing a budget crisis like we have never seen," he said.
Another significant issue plaguing the district is declining enrollment. According to Iglesias, an increasing number of young families are leaving the district due to prohibitive housing costs. Their migration, he said, impacts elementary schools the most.
According to district data, elementary schools have lost nearly 1,500 students in the past five years. Because state funding is tied to student attendance, fewer students mean less money for the schools. And the district predicts this decline will continue over the next few years.
To offset the deficit created by state budget cuts and fewer students in the classrooms, the district said school closures are unavoidable. According to San Jose Unified School District Associate Superintendent Gerald Matranga, the proposed closures will save the district about $1.9 million for the 200506 year. To balance the remaining gap, he said, the district has had to make other cuts in services.
At the administrative level, San Jose Unified School District Director of Finance Rosemarie Pottage said, central management positions have been cut, and plans are under way to implement a centralized kitchen that will cook food for all the school sites.
But the impact of the deficit will also hit the classroom, she said. Middle schools will no longer offer a sixth period, Pottage said, and class sizes in kindergarten and first and second grade will increase.
In addition to cutting services, the district is also trying to generate revenue, Pottage said. To bring in more money, the district needs to increase students' attendance rate, continue looking for ways to curb healthcare costs and work toward the qualification of Lincoln Plus—an alternative school that helps at-risk students graduate in the district. The school missed the certification date five years ago because of application timing.
The district is also considering placing a parcel-tax measure on the ballot, possibly in March 2006, Iglesias said. If the parcel tax passes, he said, it could restore the middle schools' sixth period or reduce class sizes. But Iglesias acknowledged that these plans are tentative and in the hands of the voters.
Despite the district's grim financial picture, Iglesias said he and the rest of the staff remained committed to improving student achievement, retaining and attracting qualified educators and engaging with the community.
Willow Glen resident and Castillero Middle School parent Judy Steinberg believes the district is doing a good job in communicating with parents during a time of heated emotions and difficult decisions. Although she said she didn't want to lose the special programs being offered at the performing arts magnet, Steinberg also expressed empathy for the administrators.
"I know they have to cut money," she said. "I don't know what the answer is."
But Pat Pizzo, whose grandchild attends Hacienda Environmental Science Magnet, said he believed cutting magnet schools was the wrong solution to the district's budget woes.
"I hope they don't close the magnet schools," he said. "It seems the easiest way to get out of the budget problem would be to attract parents with good, quality programs."
Pizzo also expressed the concern that his grandchild's education was being shortchanged.
"I was a Willow Glen Elementary and High School student," he said. "I want to see my grandchild have the same opportunities I had. With the budget dilemma and the cuts in programs, it's a real concern."
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