7-11 Committee Concludes Final Meeting

VALLEJO, Calif. - The Vallejo City Unified School District (VCUSD) held its last 7-11 Committee Meeting on Monday, Nov. 4. The 7-11 Committee, comprised of community members, parents, educators, and district officials, approved three recommendations to present to the VCUSD Board of Education at the upcoming Board Meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20.

The three recommendations are:

1. Consolidation of Schools: Mare Island Health and Fitness Academy should be consolidated into Federal Terrace Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, and other middle schools. 
2. Relocation of Grades 6-8: Relocate grades 6-8 from Loma Vista Environmental Science Academy to Solano Widenmann Leadership Academy, a neighboring school.
3. Waiver for Competitive Bidding Requirements: Support the Board's decision to apply for a waiver of surplus property competitive bidding requirements to seek offers that are most advantageous to the district.

At the Nov. 20 Board Meeting, the committee will present its findings and recommendations for the Board to vote on. It's important to note that the Board, while not bound by the committee's recommendations, will thoroughly consider them and other factors before making a decision. 

Since the 2018-19 school year, VCUSD has experienced a 21 percent decline in student enrollment. A once bustling community of over 20,000 students has shrunk to under 10,000. This trend has been driven by rising housing costs, smaller family sizes, and increased educational options. These demographic changes have left the district with more schools than students, prompting a careful review of how best to utilize its facilities. For comparison, San Leandro Unified School District, which has a similar headcount, operates 13 school sites, whereas VCUSD currently maintains 19 TK-12 campuses.

The district is grappling with resources being spread thinly across its 19 schools, combined with a budget deficit that is more than $5 million for this fiscal year and could balloon to over $13 million by the 2025-26 school year. Closing and consolidating schools that are, on average, operating at 46 percent capacity could create significant cost savings through economies of scale, allowing for better resource allocation, improved educational quality by combining resources, and enhanced access to specialized programming.

"This is a difficult decision no matter how we approach it," VCUSD Superintendent Rubén Aurelio acknowledged. "We understand the concerns about community impact, but we believe that careful planning and family engagement will help our students. By reallocating our resources, we can better support essential programs that foster academic and personal growth for all our students. We are embarking on this challenging but necessary process of consolidating schools to ensure a more sustainable future for our community."

For more information about the 7-11 Committee, please visit our website.