7-11 Committee Meeting No. 2 Recap: Continuing Our Dedication To Responsible and Equitable School Consolidation

VALLEJO, Calif. - On July 7, 2025, the 7-11 Committee held its second meeting as part of Phase 2 in Vallejo City Unified School District's school closure and consolidation process. This citizen-led advisory committee reviews districtwide data and provides community-informed recommendations to the Board of Education.

Committee Charge

The committee is evaluating and rank-ordering seven school sites for potential closure:

• Cooper Elementary
• Federal Terrace Elementary
• Highland Elementary
• John Finney Education Complex
• Lincoln Elementary
• Pennycook Elementary
• Steffan Manor Elementary

Additionally, the Board has asked the committee to consider whether four campuses—Federal Terrace, Finney, Cooper, and Highland—should be declared surplus properties. This designation would allow the Board to lease, sell, or repurpose those sites in the future.

The committee will present its final recommendations, including closure rankings and surplus property designations, to the Board of Education at its regular meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 20. The Board will make final decisions on school closures and consolidations by the end of the calendar year.

Meeting Overview

Six of the ten committee members were present. Discussion focused on the state-mandated AB 1912 evaluation criteria, which consider fiscal, demographic, programmatic, and transportation factors.

Key Topics Discussed

• Enrollment Trends: Updated data through 2033 show a continued decline in student enrollment, a major driver behind the need to realign district resources.
• Financial and Facility Analysis: Members reviewed site-level expenditures and projected cost savings for each potential closure.
• School-by-School Review: Committee members explored each of the seven school sites under consideration.
• Initial District Proposal: Superintendent Rubén Aurelio presented an initial staff recommendation that included the proposed closure of Lincoln, Pennycook, and Cooper Elementary Schools and the relocation of John Finney programs to another existing campus. He challenged the committee to think boldly and explore solutions to prevent the need for a third phase of closures.

Upcoming Meetings

The committee will meet two more times before presenting its final report. Community members are encouraged to attend and participate, especially at the upcoming public hearing:

• Monday, July 28 – Public Hearing
• Monday, Aug. 11 – Final Committee Meeting
• Wednesday, Aug. 20 – Presentation of Final Report to the VCUSD Board of Education

All meetings are open to the public and will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the VCUSD District Office Board Room, 665 Walnut Ave., Vallejo. Public comment is welcome on agenda items.

Stay Informed

The following day, the District posts video recordings of all committee meetings on its YouTube channel.

Please visit our Roadmap to Resizing web for ongoing updates and additional information.

We remain steadfast in our commitment to transparency and open dialogue throughout this process, ensuring the community is well-informed and engaged.