An east San Jose school district superintendent has recommended closing seven schools and consolidating others.

After the Alum Rock Union School District Consolidation Board selected 13 schools to close or consolidate, Superintendent Germán Cerda narrowed his selection. He suggests Aptitud Community Academy on Goss, Donald J. Meyer Elementary School, Horace Cureton Elementary School, Joseph George Middle School, Lyndale Elementary School, Renaissance Academy on Fischer and Sylvia Cassell Elementary School close.

Additionally, Cerda proposes moving LUCHA Academy to San Antonio Elementary School and combining Painter Elementary School with Sheppard Middle School and Millard McCollam Elementary. Students in the Vietnamese Dual Language Immersion program are consolidated with Sheppard Middle School and students in the Structured English Immersion program attend Millard McCollam Elementary. Following his recommendation, the Chavez Early Learning Center would serve only preschool children ages 0 and move transitional kindergarten and kindergarten classes to San Antonio Elementary School.

The district's efforts are the result of several factors, including a $20 million budget deficit. Enrollment has fallen from more than 10,000 students in 2015-2016 to an expected 7,270 students in 2024-25. Declining enrollment and the loss of temporary COVID relief funds have left the district in the red.

Cerda will present his recommendations to the ARUSD Board of Trustees at a public hearing on Nov. 14, with the board making its final decision on Dec. 2. School closures and consolidations will come into effect for the 2025/26 school year.

“Currently, district funding is distributed among partially full schools,” Cerda said in a statement. “By consolidating and closing schools, we can reallocate these funds to improve important programs and increase academic and enrichment opportunities across the district.”

Mother Christine Villareal, whose comments can be found on the district website, agrees. The district has untapped potential and it is important to plan for it for the future, she said. East Side students deserve greatness and this process allows the district to pool resources and achieve bigger dreams.

Criteria for school closures include an analysis of district equity, enrollment trends, proximity to charter schools, the condition of existing facilities and recent renovations, special programs and required cost savings, said ARUSD spokesman Sergio Diaz Luna. Staffing will be reduced districtwide to close the budget deficit, he added.

“No one in our community wants to close schools, including me,” Cerda told San Jose Spotlight. “We will continue to seek feedback and communicate with families throughout the process to identify and minimize disruptions to the transition. Looking forward, this process is an opportunity to build a better future for ARUSD.”

Contact Lorraine Gabbert at (email protected).