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At least 3 Bay Area school districts meeting over massive budget shortfalls
Like many Bay Area school districts, Hayward Unified is facing a budget shortfall, which is currently at $31 million. They're not alone.
HAYWARD, Calif. - Many Bay Area school districts are facing budget shortfalls, forcing them to make tough decisions like closing schools or cutting programs.
On Monday night, Hayward Unified, Fremont Unified, Alum Rock Unified in San Jose and Oakland Unified are all holding meetings to discuss what to do.
The problem is enrollment is down. Some districts blame this on an expansion of charter schools and a decline in birth rates.
"We’re losing about 200 to 300 students a year, and part of that is because people are not having children anymore," said Michael Bazeley, spokeman for the Hayward Unified School District. "And in California and the Bay Area in particular, people are finding that it’s expensive to live here so they’re migrating to other parts of the state."
In Hayward, schools have lost about 3,500 students in the last eight years and state funding depends on daily attendance.
At the same time, pandemic relief funds are expiring.
Hayward Unified closed two schools two years ago, so Bazeley said they aren’t considering closing any more schools right now, but that could change in the future. Right now they are in the early stages of figuring out what to do, but it seems like programs and staffing will likely see cuts.
"We’re asking parents how important things such as small class sizes, competitive salaries for our teachers and our staff so we can recruit the very best people in a very competitive labor environment, how important things like sports are to them, visual and performing arts," said Bazeley.
Fremont is also still trying to decide where to make cuts.
In Oakland and Alum Rock, officials said they are thinking about closures and consolidation.
Oakland Unified is trying to close a $95-million deficit officials expect to see by the next school year, and they are considering consolidating 10 schools.
Alum Rock Unified is projecting a $20-million deficit and the superintendent has recommended closing seven schools and consolidating two. The final decision is expected to be announced at Monday night's meeting.