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Twin Rivers schools consider closures, consolidation to manage budget woes

The Twin Rivers Unified School District (TR)held the first of five planned community meetings over the multi-million dollar budget deficit.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Parents, community members, educators, and district leaders met inside the gymnasium of Foothill High School to discuss the issue facing the Twin Rivers Unified School District.

Despite two consecutive years of budget cuts totaling $16.9 million, Twin Rivers USD must find an additional $3.8 million to get in the black for the 2020-21 school year. 

The district started making cuts in 2017 through an early retirement program and other department reductions. Now, the district is considering closing and consolidating some schools. Although, no decisions have been made for the 2020-21 school year.

Tap here to see Twin Rivers USD structural deficit breakdown.

The district could save nearly $1 million per school initially, and roughly $500,000 per year after. Those savings would come in operational costs and downsizing staff.

Rising costs of operating schools and a declining enrollment has led to the problem, said Superintendent Dr. Steve Martinez.

“We want to be able to sustain some of the great programs we have in place,” Martinez said. “Sustain some of the great employees we have in place.”

The district relies on state funding which is calculated by daily attendance. Lower enrollment rates have led to lower state funding levels.

“At the forefront, we just want to ensure that our kids get the best quality education,” Martinez said. “That’s always gonna be our focus and what we have to do to get there, yes, some tough decisions are going to have to be made.”

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In 2019, there are 25,700 students enrolled at Twin River’s 53 school sites compared to more than 27,500 students just eight years ago. The district lost 465 students in the 2017-18 school year and leaders project they’ll lose even more students in the coming years.

However, some parents hope the district can look into other options. Crystal Harding’s children attend two elementary schools in Twin Rivers.

“There has to be other options,” Harding said.

She is urging district leaders to address the issue of declining enrollment before they consider closing schools.

Rebecca LeDoux is President of the Twin Rivers United Educators, the union representing Twin Rivers teachers.

“I think the district is not acting in the best interests of our students,” LeDoux said.

Union leaders are concerned that closing schools will lead to “mega schools.” That would mean larger class sizes and LeDoux contends it could only make the problem of declining enrollment worse.

The current $3.8 million deficit makes up one percent of the district’s $355 million budget. LeDoux argues that the district can find other items from the budget without closing schools.

“When you have a bureaucracy of this size it’s very easy to find one-percent to cut,” LeDoux said.

The next meeting discussing the issue will be held at Highlands High School gym on Tuesday, Nov. 12 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Similar meetings will be held at Grant Union High School, Rio Linda High School, and Rio Tierra Junior High School through Dec. 3.

The Twin Rivers school board is not expected to make a decision on next school year’s budget or school closures until 2020.

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