The reason the meeting had more attendance than usual was because board members are considering the possibility of closing two or as many as three of the eight district elementary school campuses next academic year to cut expenses. Parents left the Oct. 13 board meeting even more frustrated that the board members unanimously passed 22 school operations criteria and a school closures timeline. The item on the board agenda identifies how those campuses that will not close will handle the extra overflow of students from the closed schools, while minimizing disruption.

District Superintendent Phil Quon stressed that the possibility of closing schools in the 4,700-student district is a highly emotional issue. While Guadalupe Elementary School, 6044 Vera Cruz Drive in San Jose, and Alta Vista Elementary School, 200 Blossom Valley Drive in Los Gatos, are physically the smallest school sites, Quon said he had no idea where parents got the idea that specific schools had already been targeted for closure. Board members claimed during the meeting that no school within the district has been identified for closure.

The board will make its final decision in February 2004, and schools could be closed by the next school year. A task force will be assembled to discuss options other than school closures as well as school closures, Quon said.

While he appreciated the community feedback, Quon said parent comments were unfair when they said they were not well-informed about school consolidations and budget cuts. Many parents said they learned about the board meeting on Oct. 8, giving them short notice to prepare statements and become informed about the closure process in time for the Oct. 13 meeting.

Quon said he publicizes notices regularly in all of the school principals' newsletters, as well as updating information on the district's website and making sure board meetings and items on the agenda are publicized.

"I want to express my disappointment that you went through this, and didn't inform parents until [Oct. 8]," said Yuval Schwartz of Los Gatos, the parent of a fifth grader attending Alta Vista. Schwartz said he was worried about how school consolidations would impact the community as well as create a loss in property value.

Board members proposed that closing two schools could save about $650,000, although further cutbacks are a possibility for next year. Quon said about $1 million has already been cut from the $33 million general fund budget, in the form of valuable employees and programs, to make up for a lack of state support.

A total of 24 district employee jobs have been completely eliminated, from computer aides and instructional assistants to food service workers and custodians. In addition, 34 district employees have had their hours significantly reduced.

Quon said the board is continually looking at ways to cut expenses and increase revenue since they are currently facing an unrestricted deficit, or shortfall, of $4,885,315 for the 2003­04 fiscal year.

The next board meeting is planned for Nov. 10 at the district office, 5175 Union Ave. in San Jose. For more information, visit http://www.unionsd.org.