Decreasing enrollment and revenue along with rising expenses are prompting the San Mateo-Foster City School District to think about the unthinkable - possibly closing one of its smaller schools.
The most likely candidate would be Beresford Elementary since it is close to other schools and only has 250 students. In a scenario painted by trustee Charles Perry, the district could shut the school, move students to other schools and move its district office there - saving a considerable amount of rent.
His proposal, however, did not meet the smell test for other trustees at a board meeting last night. Board Chair Jack Coyne said the cost may be too great for too little benefit, trustee Mark Hudak said even talking about it may create a tremendous rift in the community and trustee Phyllis Moore characterized herself as "chicken" when it came to making the decision.
"This is one of those decisions that would upset a lot of people," Moore said.
Still, enrollment has dropped from a high of 10,691 in 1996 to 10, 069 last year. It is not projected to rise again until 2012, said Associate Superintendent Susan Silver. And the district is facing another $2 million in cuts this year. That number could also get bigger as the budget deadline gets nearer.
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Closing a school could cost an estimated $271,269, but may also cost more when moving and redrawing boundaries are factored in, Silver said. Coyne added that busing students to a new school would also add cost.
However, Perry said the district could lease out the facility and generate up to $300,000 a year. Obtaining a lease is not guaranteed, Coyne countered, and the school would likely need costly improvements. Even with Coyne and Perry at opposite ends of the discussion, the board agreed to explore more finite numbers on how much a school closure would cost and how it could be done.
When enrollment numbers come in next month, Coyne said the district will have a better idea of what the next step may be.
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