But does the work of this appointed school consolidation committee even matter?
The Vallejo City Unified School District board approved the committee's creation to recommend a school site or sites for closure in the 2010-11 school year. Shuttering at least one school is seen as just one way to help erase a projected district budget shortfall of more than $11 million.
The all-volunteer committee to help make this emotionally charged choice is diverse: Three employee union representatives, two principals, three parents, two business people and one former Vallejo student.
In the face of continued declining district enrollment and the looming deficit, district officials have said that at least one school closure is likely inevitable. But, at least to the committee, district officials have not closed the door on other options.
Other options may be one reason panel members have struggled to make significant progress after half their meetings. The emotional gravity of making such a controversial recommendation may also be weighing on panel members who may have taught, attended or worked at schools that are seemingly most vulnerable.
And, regardless of what they recommend, it's still unclear just how much influence they will have on the
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board, and ultimately State Administrator Richard Damelio, who has veto power over any choice.
District officials also have seemingly eliminated at least 10 schools from possible closure for various reasons, based partly on verbal commitments to the schools' staffs. Other reasons include practical ones, such as where district meals are prepared.
While all five elected school board members say they are remaining open and objective about which site or sites to close, Damelio said he has his own opinion of the final decision.
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