Did the Long Beach Board of Education decide to keep East Elementary School open?

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At its meeting on Monday night, the Long Beach Board of Education made a long-awaited decision, voting to keep East Elementary School open, after over a year of deliberation and community debate.

The board’s decision not to repurpose East Elementary was made after extensive deliberation. While community advocacy played a significant role in the discussions, trustees emphasized that their decision was based on thorough research and careful consideration of a number of factors.

“I do appreciate the administration putting together plans and giving us the opportunity to take the time,” board Vice President Alexis Pace said. “That’s what we did. That’s what the community asked us to do — to take time and to think it through. So ultimately, the school stays open, but I really . . . hope and pray that we can rebuild some sort of culture and some sort of mutual respect and collaboration.”

The potential repurposing of East Elementary was initially discussed as part of a broader effort to address the district’s financial challenges, but an anticipated cut in state foundation aid, which had prompted the exploration of consoli

dation options, did not occur this year.

The board has continued to weigh the long-term fiscal and educational implications of maintaining the school. Throughout the process, district officials made a concerted effort to gather all the information they needed to reach an informed decision, undertaking demographic studies, consulting with advisory committees and considering potential impacts on students, staff and the wider community.

The trustees expressed varying perspectives during the meeting. The majority ultimately supported keeping East Elementary open, citing its importance to the community and the lack of a clear, viable plan for repurposing the building. One trustee, Dennis Ryan, opposed the decision, citing concerns about the financial sustainability of maintaining the nearly century-old school and the potential benefits of consolidation for educational and fiscal efficiency. Ryan argued that repurposing the school would have better served the district’s long-term interests.

“We have a fiscal responsibility, and I vote that it should be repurposed,” he said. “I believe it’s the best for (the) educational interests of the children and the community and (the) best financial interests of the entire community.”

The other trustees, however, said they felt that the community’s needs, and the absence of immediate financial necessity, outweighed the potential advantages of repurposing the school. They emphasized the importance of focusing on academic excellence and fostering unity in the district.

 

More Budget Details

Michael DeVito, the district’s assistant superintendent for finance and operations, presented more information on the preliminary $157.8 million district budget for the 2025-26 school year — roughly $1.8 million, or 1.21 percent, larger than the current spending plan. It includes routine adjustments, such as a 2.23 percent rise in employee compensation, as many staff members move up to the next step on the salary schedule.

Transportation costs are a particular concern this budget season, with potential contractor rate increases of up to 50 percent, which would cost an additional $700,000. Facilities costs, including utilities, are also expected to rise. The district plans to offset some increases, however, with anticipated savings from retirements, with newer staff members entering at lower salaries. Employee benefits are expected to see a slight reduction, and reduced interest payments on the district’s debt is projected to save $46,000.

“We’re fortunate to see a little bit of a reduction because past this January, our health insurance remained pretty much flat,” DeVito said. “It was able to offset some of the pension contribution increases.”

The district is anticipating an increase of 2 percent, or $390,000, in state foundation aid in 2025-26. Funding tied to student enrollment, however, is expected to decline due to lower enrollment. Building aid may increase slightly as the state processes final reports for recent projects, but administrators expressed concerns about potential long-term decreases in aid due to changes in funding formulas.

The district continues to refine budget projections in meetings with school administrators and district residents. The final budget is scheduled for adoption on April 23, followed by a public hearing. The budget vote and trustee election will take place on May 20.