Beresford closure proposal outlined

Susan Silver, associate superintendent of administrative services, outlined the costs and potential benefits of closing a school in the district at a board meeting last night. Beresford, with its 250 students, was chosen to illustrate the complexity of such a proposal, Superintendent Pendery Clark emphasized. The proposal is only being presented, any discussion is still in the preliminary stages and Clark said low test scores are not the reason.

"It was selected because of its size, not because of low test scores," Clark said.

Closing a school could be a long and contentious process and the financial benefit may not be worth the community cost. Still, Silver did the math at the request of the board.

The district would save between $250,000 and $271,000 in staff and utilities if the school was closed. Since 84 students are bused from North Central San Mateo, they could return to that neighborhood. There are 38 transfers from other neighborhoods and those students could return to other schools. That leaves 128 students from the Beresford neighborhood that would have to find a place at another school. Approximately six or seven classrooms would have to be found, Silver said.

At nearby Meadow Heights, there is one available classroom used for a gifted student program, art, music and rainy day physical education. At Laurel, there are six available classrooms that are being used by a nonprofit, preschool staff, art and music and other uses. If the district wanted to keep some classrooms for the other uses, a portable or two may be needed, Silver said. Portables cost $180,000 to purchase and install. If needed, the portables could detract from the cost savings, Silver said. However, she said the district is not legally required to have the extra classrooms.

Closing the school could also have an impact on test scores since the 84 children bused from North Central are English learners, Silver said.

Although enrollment is projected to continue declining, Silver said it may go up and the school may be needed later this decade.

Because of moving and other costs, the district would only save approximately $25,000 the first year of closure. The second year may see an increase to $225,000. If the district were to move its offices to the shuttered school, it could save the $300,000 in rent it pays for its current strip mall offices on 42nd Avenue. However, moving and upgrades would cost approximately $405,000 the first year. Moving the district office to a closed Beresford would cost the district $380,000 the first year and save between $145,000 to $525,000 a year after, depending on how many portables are needed, Silver said.

The board has not formally discussed the proposal, it merely heard the report. Further discussion may take place as the budget situation solidifies.

Jon Mays can be reached by e-mail at jon@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 107. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.