Community members express their opinions on proposed school closures during a Vallejo School District meeting.
The Vallejo City Unified School District’s 7-11 Committee has recommended the closure of Lincoln Elementary due to budget challenges and declining enrollment. Lincoln is the smallest school under review, projected to have only 96 students. While the recommendation raises concerns among community members, officials highlight ongoing financial struggles and potential savings from closures. Community feedback has shown support for certain schools, sparking discussions on future planning and resource optimization efforts.
Vallejo, CA — The Vallejo City Unified School District’s 7-11 Committee has officially recommended the potential closure of Lincoln Elementary School, which stands as the top candidate among seven schools being considered for closure or consolidation. The recommendation comes after the third committee meeting held earlier this week, which featured a legally mandated public hearing and drew approximately 20 community members who voiced their concerns and support.
The committee’s list of schools identified as potential closures or consolidations includes Lincoln Elementary, Steffan Manor, Pennycook, Federal Terrace Elementary, John Finney Education Complex, Cooper Elementary, and Highland Elementary. Among these, Lincoln Elementary was highlighted as the most at-risk, largely due to its small enrollment and demographic factors.
In particular, Lincoln Elementary has a projected enrollment of just 96 students for the upcoming school year, making it the smallest school among the institutions under review. The committee’s recommendation leans heavily on the district’s financial needs and declining student numbers, which have been significant across the district in recent years.
During the public hearing, Lincoln Elementary’s principal and staff members actively defended the school’s importance in the community. Principal Sue Kelly and Expanded Learning Coordinator Diane Flowers emphasized Lincoln’s role in serving a primarily low-income demographic and highlighted its unique contributions to student development.
Flowers stressed that closing Lincoln would negatively impact attendance and eliminate a vital support system for the children it serves. Kelly pointed out that the school has made notable progress, particularly in its literacy programs, which have recently shown substantial improvements in student achievement. She expressed concerns that a closure could threaten these ongoing programs and the gains achieved.
Despite the recommendation for closure, the district plans to preserve Lincoln’s successful literacy initiatives by relocating them if Lincoln Elementary is shut down. Similarly, programs at the John Finney Education Complex may also be moved to other sites. Meanwhile, students from Steffan Manor are proposed to be consolidated into Pennycook School.
Additionally, the committee classified some schools—Federal Terrace, John Finney, Cooper, and Highland—as “surplus,” granting the district the flexibility to lease, sell, or repurpose these properties at a later date, depending on future needs.
Community members voiced strong support for maintaining certain schools, including Cooper and Federal Terrace, prompting some committee members to reconsider the initial rankings. The final recommendations will be formally discussed at a district meeting scheduled for August 11, encouraging participation from affected families and community stakeholders, especially those associated with Lincoln Elementary.
Superintendent Rubén Aurelio clarified that the district’s board would not make final decisions until December. The current recommendations serve as a guiding framework for upcoming discussions. The district’s financial challenges have been ongoing, with recent enrollment dropping from approximately 18,000 students in 2004 to around 9,656 last year.
Superintendent Aurelio indicated that the district aims to close an additional three schools to stabilize finances, citing projected annual savings of $300,000 for Lincoln, $600,000 for Pennycook, and $450,000 for Cooper. These closures are part of a broader effort to address declining enrollment and ongoing budget shortfalls while striving to improve educational services and attract new students.
The district has emphasized that school closures and consolidations are not solely driven by financial necessity. Instead, the goal is to optimize resources, enhance program quality, and sustain district operations amid declining enrollment. District officials continue to monitor demographic trends and are engaged in planning efforts aimed at maintaining long-term educational stability in Vallejo.
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