District to Hear Update on Possible School Closures Thursday

The fate of a Rosemont elementary school slated for closure still won't be decided for some time, but residents will have another chance to make an appeal to district officials Thursday.

The Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education on Thursday will hear an update on the district's plans to close 11 under-enrolled elementary schools.

James W. Marshall is one of the schools on that list, and a meeting was set to be held at that campus Tuesday night.

"With few exceptions, SCUSD elementary schools are substantially underenrolled per their capacity," a staff report for Thursday's meeting says. "Districtwide, SCUSD elementary enrollment stands at 56 percent of capacity. This model is not fiscally sustainable and drains resources from other students and schools."

Enrollment in the district fell by about 800 students this year, and it's predicted to drop again next year, the report says.

That declining enrollment and rising costs is projected to create a "substantial deficit" this year, despite the passage of Prop. 30, the district says. Closing those 11 elementary schools would save the district $2.5 million each year, according to the district.

The board is scheduled to make a final decision on the school closures at its Feb. 21 meeting.

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Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education meeting
6:30 p.m. Thursday
5735 47th Ave.

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