On April 1, the Vallejo City Unified School District Board of Education unanimously reaffirmed its decision to close Highland Elementary School, Lincoln Elementary School, and Pennycook Elementary School. The decision was made because of declining enrollments and financial pressure, but has sparked strong reactions from families, staff, and community members who say the closures will deeply disrupt the local communities.
At the Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Rubén Aurelio said the district is facing “sustained enrollment decline and ongoing financial pressure.” Adding that “operating too many underenrolled schools spreads our resources thin, limits opportunities for students, and ultimately undermines the very outcomes we are working to improve.”
He also explained that the April 1 vote was a procedural step. After the December 17, 2025 decision to close the schools, the district received a formal notification from the California School Employees Association raising concerns about possible Brown Act violations.
The Brown Act is a California law that requires school board decisions to be made openly and in public.
The alleged violations were based on text messages that showed a plan to discuss the schools closures in a meeting closed to the public.
While the district disagreed with those claims, it revisited the vote to “prioritize clarity, public trust, and procedural integrity.”
Community members and staff pushed back strongly during public comment, arguing the closures will harm students and their communities.
One speaker said “Closing Highland, Lincoln, and Pennycook is not just a logistical decision. It is a disruption to entire communities. Families will be uprooted. Students will be moved. Support systems will be broken.”
Another emphasized “Our schools are not just buildings, they are the heart of our neighborhoods. When you talk about closing them you aren’t just consolidating assets, you are tearing a hole in the fabric of this community. You are forcing students into overcrowded classrooms and longer commutes. You are telling these families that their history and their stability doesn’t matter.”
Some speakers also raised concerns about inevitable job losses due the closures:
“The district is choosing to remove experienced, trusted employees… replacing that with uncertainty. That is not cost saving. That is a risk.” a concerned community member states.
A VCUSD employee also added “Every time a classified employee is laid off, students lose support. Every time a school is closed, students lose stability.” describing the closures as “what is being taken away from students.”
As the Vallejo City Unified School District moves forward with the closures the stance of community members is still very clear; the schools closing will only disrupt the students and their communities.
District leaders maintain that the decision is necessary to address financial issues within the district, while many people in the community continue to question whether the long-term consequences will outweigh the intended benefits.
