I am a San Jose Unified School District elementary school parent, and I am grateful for the excellent education my daughter is receiving. I am concerned the district’s school consolidation proposals by the Schools of Tomorrow Implementation Committee have not accounted for the negative impacts that closures have on all students.

At the March 10 meeting, the committee finalized its recommendation of option 8. This option was intended as a compromise plan with smaller impact than prior proposals, closing fewer schools than originally proposed.

However, option 8 does not actually have a smaller impact because it shifts many boundaries at schools that are not closing or receiving students — 20 of 24 zoned schools see closure or boundary shifts, and one of three magnet schools moves. Meanwhile, the committee fails its stated primary goal of moving students to larger schools. Only 36% of students will be at ideal sized schools versus the current 24%.

Only 12% more students would attend ideal size schools, but 78% of schools are impacted. Everyone loses in this compromise — both the district and families.

Moving forward with school closures in this manner is a good way to lose voter support. I propose these solutions:

1. Abandon the changes for this year

There is no path to implementing a good solution in this manner, and there is no financial urgency that forces a bad decision right now. Also, parents need to make decisions about the next school year now. We are out of time.

2. Implement consolidations in a better way next year

School closures should be made in response to specific needs, not preemptively, though paths for smaller scale closures could be included if they are needed in the future. A metric should be added to avoid impact to students when schools are already successful, making sure the school will actually benefit if it has to suffer change.

If saving money by closing schools without achieving target sizes is actually to be treated as a high priority, then it should be listed as a first order metric. Taxpayers and voters would be happy to see savings.

Committees should include representatives from each school so the committee can address each school’s concerns. This person would act as a liaison between the committee and each school. Compromise is easier when everyone feels heard.

3. Address the real problem

Slow student losses by making sure the community knows SJUSD students receive a good education. Clearly, SJUSD is not meeting families’ needs, or at least their perception of them. I now know that my neighborhood school is solid, though I did not know that when I was a prospective parent. How did you fail to share that critical information with me when I was visiting? This is a solvable PR problem.

4. Provide excellent education

Parents want the students who are behind to catch up, the students in the middle to maintain their progress and be given the opportunity to become advanced students. The advanced students should be challenged and not kept from advancing beyond their peers. State these goals clearly, work to implement the proposed changes, then check and clearly publish your performance for all of these groups and iterate.

5. Let taxpayers know their funds are being used well

My SJUSD trustee is up for reelection this year, and I will be voting for the candidate who supports the above actions.

Katy Bosworth is a retired semiconductor process engineer and parent to a San Jose Unified School District elementary school student.