Elementary school to shutter

Superintendent John Baker said in a prepared statement officials are preparing to shutter the campus in an effort to limit the financial strain on the district’s shoestring budget.

“The Bay Area has been changing and we must adapt to this change,” he said. “Families are moving out, school districts are restructuring schools on the Peninsula and throughout the Bay Area and we are not immune to this change. Allowing for any school with low enrollment to continue to operate means fewer resources and this is not something we will allow in the [Redwood City Elementary School District].”

District spokesman Jorge Quintana said the decision is not yet final, and will be further examined by officials in early April.

District officials have long grappled with budget limitations, as the school system operates with allocations from the state according to average daily attendance. With a shrinking enrollment comes fewer dollars issued by Sacramento.

San Bruno Park Elementary School District officials also recently approved shuttering small, neighborhood schools in an effort to conform with the state’s preference for larger comprehensive campuses accommodating more students.

San Mateo County Supervisor Warren Slocum, who represents the Fair Oaks community, said dozens of concerned parents shared their frustration with the decision during the Board of Supervisor’s most recent meeting.

“This is just a really heartbreaking situation and it is unfortunate,” he said.

Slocum and fellow Supervisor Carole Groom are slated to meet with Baker and other district officials next week to further discuss the issue.

A primary concern for neighborhood residents is the special education program operated at the school, and Slocum said he understands all students will be moved with their teachers and support staff as a unit to another campus.

Many of the other amenities provided at the school site, including the family center, will be preserved, according to a district press release. The classrooms will be used next year to accommodate charter schools.

Slocum said he considers the alternative use of the campus a reasonable compromise, since many of the students who attend Redwood City charter schools come from the Fair Oaks neighborhood.

As the site’s future is charted, Slocum said he hopes school officials would be willing to continue allowing the community to use the campus for gatherings and events.

Students enrolled at Fair Oaks Elementary School will have the option of moving to Garfield, Hoover or Taft community schools, which will also offer after-school and summer school programs as well as transportation opportunities for new students. Families can also apply to enroll at other district schools if they wish, according to the report.

Gloria Rangel, a parent at the school, said concerns are still circulating through the parent community.

“The parents are very angry,” she said, claiming outreach from school officials communicating the plans was insufficient. Meanwhile, the district expressed a willingness to meet with any parent or community member dissatisfied with the plans.

“Staff will meet with all Fair Oaks families individually to guide them through this process and address the best needs for their children,” according to the press release.

For his part, Slocum defended the intent of school district officials seeking to make a tough choice with the limited options presented by a tight budget.

“There is no evil purpose,” he said. “They are trying to make the best decision they can for the kids.”

Baker shared a similar perspective, expressing a desire to continue granting a good education to students regardless of where they are located.

“We will continue to offer our students a high-quality education and we will deliver that service even if it means transferring to another site,” he said.

austin@smdailyjournal.com

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