ABC school district suggests shutting down five schools, state-ordered assessment supports decision
The ABC Unified School District (ABCUSD) has announced plans to close five elementary schools as part of a cost-saving measure, prompting concerns from the community over the disruption to students and the unique offerings these schools provide.
The schools under consideration for closure are Aloha Elementary, Furgeson Elementary, Juarez Elementary, Stowers Elementary, and Whitney High. Notably, Stowers Elementary is the only International Baccalaureate (IB) elementary school in the district, offering a curriculum not available elsewhere in ABCUSD.
The proposed closures are expected to save the district approximately $850,000 annually. However, the exact reasons for the closures were not fully disclosed in the available information.
The ABCUSD Superintendent, Dr. Mary Sieu, has emphasised the importance of student, staff, and family safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to community concerns, counseling and transportation services will be provided for students affected by the school closures.
The District conducted a formal Equity Impact Analysis under Assembly Bill 1912, revealing no significant demographic shifts, no elimination of special programs, and minimal added transportation cost due to the proximity of the reassigned campuses. A cap on open enrollment has also been set to prevent overcrowding at receiving schools.
Over 83% of respondents in a District survey support school consolidation, but expressed concerns about the emotional impact on students, larger class sizes, and reduced program access. To address these concerns, the District has announced prioritized enrollment for impacted families and a transition committee has been formed to oversee the implementation of the school consolidation plan.
New attendance boundaries will be created to accommodate the school consolidation, and the changes will be implemented before the fall of 2026, giving the District over a year to prepare.
Students from Aloha Elementary will be reassigned to Melbourne and Willow Elementary, while those from Stowers Elementary will be redistributed to Gonsalves and Cerritos Elementary, contingent on shifting 6th graders to middle schools. Students from Juarez Elementary will attend Burbank or Kennedy Elementary, and those from Furgeson Elementary will move to Hawaiian and Melbourne Elementary.
Whitney High will expand to include a new 6th-8th grade middle school housed at the current Stowers campus. The ABCUSD Board of Education is expected to hold additional public meetings before any formal vote is taken.
An internal letter from ABCUSD outlining schools proposed for consolidation was obtained by Los Cerritos Community News in December 2023. The District is yet to release a detailed explanation for the school closures, but the community remains vocal in their opposition and concern.
"Despite concerns from the community, the ABC Unified School District plans to close five schools, including Stowers Elementary, which is the only International Baccalaureate elementary school in the district offering education-and-self-development opportunities unique to ABCUSD. To support students affected by the closures, counseling and transportation services will be provided. In light of the community news about school closures, a transition committee has been formed to oversee the implementation of the education-events associated with school consolidation, which will include a new middle school at Whitney High."
