Emotions can run pretty high when parents learn their kids’ school may be closing or merging with another one.

 

“When you talk about school consolidations and major changes it’s never an easy discussion.”

 

Trent Allen is a spokesman for the San Juan district. Officials there are looking at closing Garfield Elementary in Carmichael and Sierra Nueva High School in Sacramento at the end of the academic year. That could save the district $600,000 at a time when state funds are drying up.

But Allen says budget cuts aren’t the only motivating factor. So is dropping enrollment. He says fewer kids live near those schools because they’re growing up and moving out.  

 

“San Juan is very built out community. We don’t have the major new housing developments going in like some of our surrounding neighbors in Roseville, Folsom and Elk Grove.”

 

The district will hold several public meetings on the proposed closures this week. A final decision is expected in early December.

Meantime, other districts looking at similar closures include Folsom Cordova, Sacramento City and Natomas.