SACRAMENTO-
Tuesday night was the last of 11 community meetings ahead of Thursday’s district vote on whether or not 11 elementary schools will close.
FOX40 asked the Sacramento City Unified School District about three issues that continue to surface including why schools in a surplus are facing closure, will those schools be privatized and why are schools in low income neighborhoods being targeted.
Maple Elementary was $53,000 under budget last year but they, like many others, are on the chopping block.
“We are wondering why those funds can’t be used to help balance the budget,” asked Jeffie Vogt with Maple Elementary.
“Those are categorical special fund dollars that are used under special circumstances and they will follow the children to their new schools,” said SCUSD Superintendent Jonathan Raymond. “Again, we are not talking about one time savings, we are talking about structural issues and operating costs going forward. This district has too many schools for the number of students we have right now.”
As for what will happen to the schools once they close, some speculate the district will privatize them meaning they will be non union schools.
“Right now we do not have any plans,” said Raymond. “We are looking to get our budget under control first.”
When low income neighborhoods already suffering lose a school the entire community hurts.
“When you target these specific neighborhoods you cut off a big portion of the minority and the poor and the services they really need to enter the marketplace,” said sociologist Jesus Hernandez.
“I think you can say this about many within our community who are in low income neighborhoods and low income communities without transportation. That is why it is important for us to look at providing transportation (for students), safety and crossing guards and do the best we can,” said Raymond.