HUNDREDS OF PARENTS sat anxiously and silently as they waited for five board members in San Jose’s largest school district to determine the fate of their children’s future — and then the room erupted with “shame on you.”
The San Jose Unified School District voted 3-2 Thursday to close five schools next school year, following the recommendation of its Schools of Tomorrow Implementation Committee. Although up to nine schools were previously on the chopping block, in the end, the committee recommended the same five the district is closing — Canoas, Empire Gardens, Gardner, Lowell and Terrell elementary schools. In addition, Hammer Montessori at Galarza Elementary will be relocated to Gardner.
The trustees and parents were emotional when it came down to the vote. Board Vice President Brian Wheatley and trustee Nicole Gribstad voted no.
“San Jose Unified is a unicorn,” Wheatley said. “We are no longer financially affected by declining enrollment because the amount of money is not reduced.”
But it didn’t matter because Trustees Jose Magaña, Carla Collins and Teresa Castellanos voted yes.
Parents held out hope Castellanos would be the swing vote, but she was concerned students were being denied staffing and resources.
According to the district, the number of students at a school correlates with its number of teachers and staff, including counselors — and that impacts the types of programs it can offer, including science, art and music. Of the district’s 26 elementary schools, 12 have fewer than 350 students, while the largest has more than 800.
All five of the schools chosen for closure are Title I schools which serve a high percentage of low-income students. In addition, the majority of these children are students of color.
About 50 parents got up to speak, including Kara Tuohy who asked the board to not shutter the schools.
“Our students and families deserve more than a rushed solution,” she told the board members. “They deserve a thoughtful, transparent process that prioritizes equity, safety and long-term success. The impacts of this decision will be felt for years, especially by the most vulnerable students.”
Mayor weighs in
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan’s wife, Silvia Scandar Mahan, also spoke and read a statement on her husband’s behalf.
“Strong school communities do not happen overnight. They are built over many years through the commitment of teachers, principals, parents, and students working together,” he wrote.
Parents have been passionately fighting the school closures, protesting before meetings and speaking out during public comment.
Superintendent Nancy Albarrán told the parents delaying the decision limits opportunities, stretches resources and makes it harder to deliver an excellent education.
“Our students and families deserve more than a rushed solution. … The impacts of this decision will be felt for years, especially by the most vulnerable students.”
Kara Tuohy, parent
“This process is definitely very painful,” she said. “Our enrollment has declined significantly over time, and that decline has had a real impact on our elementary schools.”
But for those in attendance her words fell flat.
A coalition of parents filed a complaint with the district Wednesday challenging the closures, consolidations and relocations of elementary schools, according to a letter reviewed by San José Spotlight.
The complaint alleges the district’s closure process violates state and federal equity protections, was developed through a process that structurally excluded the most vulnerable student populations and creates additional safety issues by forcing students as young as 5 to walk up to 60 minutes to school.
If not adequately addressed, the parents plan to appeal to the California Department of Education.
Board accused of turning a deaf ear
David Friedlander, who organized Wednesday’s rally and sent the complaint, said he feels deeply disappointed, but not surprised.
“The district and board clearly haven’t listened or been engaged with the community,” he told San José Spotlight. “The community is going to continue to fight.”
Parents claim the district admitted it had stopped marketing enrollment to families as it relies on property taxes for revenue rather than state funding based on attendance.
Student enrollment has dropped by more than 6,000 students since the 2017-18 school year. SJUSD has approximately 25,000 students, from transitional kindergarten through grade 12, across its 41 schools.
Other local school districts have closed campuses in recent years due to dropping enrollment. That includes three in the Franklin-McKinley School District in 2025, three in the Berryessa Union School District and six in the Alum Rock Union School District in 2024.
Crestfallen parent Jennifer DePuy felt lost.
“It doesn’t feel like this had to happen. They didn’t take the safety of our children truly into consideration. We have the resources,” she told San José Spotlight. “We could provide these extra educational opportunities and programs the smaller schools are looking for by reallocating resources.”
Contact Lorraine Gabbert at lorrainegabbertsjspotlight@gmail.com.
This story originally appeared in San Jose Spotlight.