Alum Rock mass school closings rile students, families and teachers

Editor’s Note: This article was written for Mosaic, an independent journalism training program for high school students who report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.

As they said tearful farewells to their schools and now look to the fall, families affected by the closing, merger or redesign of more than half of the Alum Rock Union School District’s 22 schools struggle to cope with the drastic changes.

Some community members say they feel betrayed by the decision to close and reorganize schools. They continue to attend school board meetings. A couple of them say they are looking into legal action, but most parents seem to be at a loss about what to do next.

The decision was made due to financial problems. Because enrollment has been decreasing, the district has been receiving less and less money from the state, according to officials.

Some parents are concerned about potential overcrowding in schools when the new year begins Aug. 15.

“Unfortunately, I think it’s going to cause a lot of educational deficit with our community, especially since it’s majority minorities and first generation,” said Anna Padilla Lopez, an alumna and mother of a student who attended the closing Fischer Middle School.

The Alum Rock district is downsizing over the next school years.

Six schools will close:  Donald Meyer Elementary, Horace Cureton Elementary, A.J. Dorsa Elementary, Renaissance at Fischer Academy, Joseph George Middle School and Sylvia Cassell Elementary. The following schools merging: San Antonio and LUCHA elementary schools; Renaissance Fischer and Renaissance Mathson middle schools; Painter and Shepperd elementary schools.

Aptitud, Cesar Chavez Early Learning Center and Hubbard will be redesigned.

Then in 2026-27, Adelante II Academy will consolidate with Adelante Dual Language Academy and move to Renaissance at Fischer.

Other parents worry that the communities they have built over the years will be lost because of the district’s decision.

“These are families that have been going to a school and fostering a community for not just themselves, but for generations,” said Justin Yee, a father of four from the dual immersion school of Painter Elementary.

Parents say the district’s process to decide which schools would close or consolidate with others lacked transparency.

Parents “have lost faith in the district, because they feel like, if they can’t handle this budgetary scenario, how are they going to handle educating their children?” said Chrystine Villarreal, a parent of four Alum Rock students.

School board member Andres Quintero defended the district’s actions, saying that parents were given many opportunities to provide input and that the district had to take these decisive actions.

“If we didn’t shut down schools, the state would’ve shut them down for us,” he said. He added the district doesn’t have enough money to keep all 22 schools functioning at the best level for students.

In spring 2024, the Santa Clara County schools superintendent warned that Alum Rock spending exceeded revenue because of steadily falling enrollment. Last fall, a state agency noted that Alum Rock ran many campuses far below capacity, raising the cost of operations.

Without closing schools, the district risked bankruptcy, a state takeover and loss of local control.

Several years ago, the district appointed a closure advisory body and held public meetings. Still, many parents feel left out.

One student is worried what will happen when school begins again in less than two months.

“I’m just sad about and scared about all the different changes that they might be making to our school,” said Sophia Gutierrez, a LUCHA student.

Lizette Anaya is a member of the class of 2026 at Silver Creek High School in San Jose. Alexis Carrillo is a member of the class of 2026 at William C. Overfelt High School in San Jose.