IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. (KGTV) — South Bay Union School District trustees will vote Wednesday night on a plan to close three elementary schools due to declining enrollment and budget concerns.
Berry, Sunnyslope and Central elementary schools are all on the chopping block in a cost-cutting plan that has been in development with the Superintendent's Advisory Committee since 2023.
Along with the committee's feedback, the Wednesday’s vote comes after the district hosted five town halls for school community members to weigh in.
The district reports that enrollment has declined by 40% to 50% since 2011, nearly twice the rate of neighboring districts.
The district cites rising housing costs and limited housing developments, declining birth rates, and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABC 10News has also previously reported that staff and families believe the sewage in the Tijuana River Valley is contributing to the declining enrollment.
This dramatic drop has created financial challenges, including less funding coming from the state. A parent who serves in the committee believes that while it is a tough decision, it's the decision that makes the most sense.
"It's just numbers, right?," SBUSD parent Ian Blake said. “The school district is funded based on its average daily attendance, and when you have schools that are 30% occupied, the funds coming in from the state can't support all of the maintenance costs.”
If approved, Central Elementary would close after the 2026-2027 school year, followed by Berry in 2027-2028 and Sunnyslope Elementary in 2028-2029. The district cited enrollment figures, location, and long-term financial sustainability as the main factors in selecting these schools. In its original proposals, Sunnyslope and Berry were not under consideration to be closed.
"Three schools seems very aggressive," Berry Elementary School teacher Veronica Durate said. "We look at three of the schools -- two of the schools being two of our highest socio-economically disadvantaged areas, which is Barry and Sunnyslope. I think we have to look at equity.”
Without these closures, South Bay Union warns it could face a $15 million deficit by the 2026-27 school year, potentially leading to layoffs and cuts to academic programs.
Another part of the consolidation plan for the school district involves Nestor Language Academy, the only school in the district with a waitlist.
The school district is recommending a maintenance plan for Nestor Language that will "establish clearly written guidelines for enrollment that align with State recommendations to ensure a safe campus.” According to Blake, this plan will lower enrollment at Nestor.
"It's a huge mistake," Blake said. "I think that they should focus on those shining stars and try and recreate it.”
Durate believes the lack of funding has left the school district in the position of having a lower academic standing. She ultimately agrees with Blake that more needs to be done by the district to evaluate and improve its academic standing before deciding to close three schools.
"It was the cutting-edge district that was the reputation our district had, and for some reason, it's no longer that way," Duarte said.
As part of the consolidation plan, the district says it is looking at "academic improvement strategies over the next three years.”
The biggest concern about the school closure for Duarte and other teachers is the disruption this has on the community as a whole.
"I'm advocating, I know what happens to a community when the school closes, especially in an impoverished area, so I don't want to see that happen here to the Berry community," Durate said.
If the vote is approved, students will be reassigned to neighboring schools, and adjustments will be made to transportation and attendance boundaries. The district will also re-assign staff, dependent on student enrollment and program needs.
In a document shared with ABC 10News, the district wrote:
"The district has worked diligently in recent years to reduce costs and explore efficiencies. In parallel with the school consolidation proposal, our staff will present an updated cost reduction plan to maximize resources and protect essential educational services. Financial sustainability is critical to our ability to meet the needs of students and staff. School districts in fiscal distress often face disruptions that directly impact the quality of education. Bold, future focused decisions are necessary to ensure the continued viability of strong public education in South Bay."
The board of trustees meeting begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
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