The Tucson Unified School District has been hosting community meetings as it considers options for school consolidations or closures.
Like many other districts across the state, TUSD is facing enrollment declines. The district was designed to serve more than 67,000 students. It now enrolls fewer than 40,000.
At one of the community meetings, facilitator Bill de la Cruz said the district is spending too much money to maintain schools that are half full.
“When we talked to the principals, they talked to us about schools that leak when it rains," he said. "They talked about portables that have holes in the floors and so when we have so many buildings, it’s hard to do the infrastructure repairs that are needed to keep these buildings in top shape.”
De la Cruz said the district would prefer to put money into programs that support students, rather than aging facilities. Superintendent Gabriel Trujillo echoed that sentiment, saying the district wants to make sure students have access to full-time staff members.
“It’s a very, very painful moment and we want to acknowledge that," Trujillo said. "But it’s for the righteous cause, the pursuit of excellence in educational experiences for all of our students and to build a better, stronger, more sustainable district going forward.”
The next community meeting is schedule for Oct. 1.
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