{"id":173031,"date":"2026-02-11T05:42:26","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T05:42:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/173031\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T05:42:26","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T05:42:26","slug":"san-jose-parents-rally-to-protest-elementary-school-closures-the-mercury-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/173031\/","title":{"rendered":"San Jose parents rally to protest elementary school closures \u2013 The Mercury News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hundreds of students, parents and community members rallied at the San Jose Unified School District district office Tuesday evening to protest the potential closure of up to a third of the district\u2019s elementary schools.<\/p>\n

Announced last week, the proposed school closures are part of the district\u2019s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative<\/a>, which was started in fall of 2025 to address a loss of nearly 6,000 enrolled students since 2017. The district\u2019s school board is expected to vote on the closures by March 12.<\/p>\n

Parents from elementary schools at risk of closure showed up in droves to voice support for their neighborhood schools at Tuesday night\u2019s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d implementation committee meeting. Made up of parents, district staff, school employees and educators, the implementation committee is tasked with recommending to the board of education the best way to implement potential school closures, consolidations or attendance-boundary changes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI worry about what this could mean for the lower income communities and our families,\u201d said Lizeth Hernandez, a parent at Lowell Elementary School. \u201cWe are already facing a very difficult time. We\u2019re struggling with different things, fear\u2026Not only are we coming out from COVID that our kids are barely stepping up academically, emotionally and mentally, these changes are now going to put our kids at risk to suffer more, coming into schools where they\u2019re not welcome.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CommunityCommunity members attend a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

More than 100 community members crowded the district\u2019s meeting room, while at least 100 others were seated in overflow rooms and an additional 50 individuals stood outside the building doors, which district staff locked due to maximum capacity. The district had also said it anticipated the virtual livestream of the meeting would meet its 1,000 person capacity.<\/p>\n

Community members held signs in support of their local schools, which read, \u201cSave Simonds\u201d and \u201cSave Williams,\u201d while others expressed opposition to the district proposal, like \u201cNo school closure\u201d and \u201cDon\u2019t ignore our voices.\u201d<\/p>\n

Outraged parents from impacted schools across the district, including Simonds Elementary School, Williams Elementary School and Los Alamitos Elementary School, voiced concerns that the proposed school closures and consolidations would cause longer school commutes, poorer academic performance and struggles with finding childcare.<\/p>\n

But parents and community members were split on which of the three proposed options they would like to see the district implement, as they differ vastly in terms of which schools would remain open and which would be closed or relocated. And even schools that are not at risk of closing could see new attendance-boundaries.<\/p>\n

\"CommunityCommunity members attend a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0
\nOption 1: Closes nine elementary schools, relocates one<\/p>\n

Almaden Elementary
\nAnne Darling Elementary
\nCanoas Elementary
\nGardner Elementary
\nLowell Elementary
\nRachel Carson Elementary
\nSelma Olinder Elementary
\nSimonds Elementary
\nWalter L. Bachrodt Elementary
\nRelocates Hammer Montessori at Ernesto Galarza Elementary to Rachel Carson Elementary<\/p>\n

Option 2: Closes nine elementary schools<\/p>\n

Empire Gardens Elementary
\nGardner Elementary
\nLowell Elementary
\nRachel Carson Elementary
\nReed Elementary
\nSelma Olinder Elementary
\nTerrell Elementary
\nWalter L. Bachrodt Elementary
\nWilliams Elementary<\/p>\n

Option 3: Closes eight elementary schools<\/p>\n

Almaden Elementary
\nEmpire Gardens Elementary
\nErnesto Galarza Elementary
\nGardner Elementary
\nGrant Elementary
\nRachel Carson Elementary
\nReed Elementary
\nWilliams Elementary<\/p>\n

\"DavidDavid Montes de Oca, left, speaks as San Jose Unified School District Chief Business Officer Seth Reddy listens during a meeting at the district headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Yurie Doubov, a parent at Los Alamitos Elementary School, said under two of the three proposed options, his Croydon neighborhood would be reassigned \u2018to significantly lower performing schools.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf change is inevitable, it should not result in a clear loss of educational quality for our children,\u201d Doubov said.<\/p>\n

But the third proposed option, which leaves Croydon at Los Alamitos Elementary School, means closure for Ernesto Galarza Elementary and Williams Elementary.<\/p>\n

Priya Ghandikota, a parent at Williams Elementary School, said that over 200 families said they would likely leave the San Jose Unified School District if Williams Elementary is closed.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur analysis shows that options two and three would displace more than 1,000 students\u2026and move more students into lower performing schools than into higher performing schools,\u201d Ghandikota said. \u201cThat\u2019s not just disruptive. It\u2019s directionally wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CommunityCommunity members attend a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

The implementation committee discussed other options outside of the three presented to them by district staff earlier this month.<\/p>\n

Parents and community members advocated for the committee to add a fourth option to pause any discussions or decisions on school closures. Board member Nicole Gribstad also urged the committee to include an option that delays a decision and exhausts all other financial alternatives, rather than closing schools.<\/p>\n

The committee did not vote Tuesday to create an option that bars school closures. Instead, the committee voted to consider combining the first and second proposed school closure options in an effort to prioritize transportation for students and special education programs. The committee also voted to create an option where all students at closing schools would be moved together to a new school, rather than split among schools. Committee members also voted to remove the third school closure option, which district staff said prioritized minimal disruptions to families and school communities.<\/p>\n

The committee will meet again on Tuesday, February 24. The board of education is expected to vote on school closures no later than March 12.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Community<\/p>\n

Community members attend a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Jose Unified School District Superintendent Nancy Albarr\u00e1n, center, attends a meeting at the district headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"Community<\/p>\n

Community members attend a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"Angela<\/p>\n

Angela Perez and her daughter Violet, 7, attend a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"Community<\/p>\n

Community members attend a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"Community<\/p>\n

Community members attend a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"Community<\/p>\n

Community members attend a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"Community<\/p>\n

Community members attend a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

An overflow crowd of community members attend a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"Parent<\/p>\n

Parent Jason Erickson attends a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"Community<\/p>\n

Community members attend a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"Community<\/p>\n

Community members attend a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"Parent<\/p>\n

Parent Danielle Bouchard, left, and others, attend a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

An Aztec dancer attends a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 14<\/p>\n

Community members attend a meeting at the San Jose Unified School District headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. Under the district’s \u201cSchools of Tomorrow\u201d initiative to tackle declining enrollment, up to nine elementary schools could close by the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. (Jane Tyska\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

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