A vote to close several schools is delayed at San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD), as families showed up Tuesday in full force to pressure the advisory committee as they came up with a final recommendation.
The final vote is on hold, but the final recommendation is not.
The SJUSD advisory committee is recommending the closure of five elementary schools and relocating one.
Under the “Schools of Tomorrow” plan, Empire Gardens, Lowell, Canoas, Terrell, Gardener elementary schools would close. Hammer Montessori would be relocated to the Gardener campus.
Hours before the vote, parents, students and educators rallied outside the district office.
The cut list went from nine to five schools, as the district deals with a 20% decline in enrollment, which comes with a decrease in funding.
While that challenge has been growing since before the pandemic, school community members said closing schools doesn’t put students first.
NBC Bay Area’s Kris Sanchez has more in the video above.