"I think it's really a mistake," Glenwood parent Allie Thomas said. "I think they don't understand what they've lost."
Glenwood was one of three elementary schools under review as district leaders confront shrinking student numbers driven by lower birth rates and the area's high cost of living.
"We used to be a district of 12,000 students," said Andy Jenks, the district's chief communications officer. "We're trending toward being a district of about 9,500 students."
District officials estimate the closure could save nearly $2 million a year, with additional revenue possible from selling the property. The schools under consideration were also among the district's oldest buildings.
Jenks acknowledged the emotional weight of the decision.
"The idea of closing any school is extremely emotional and painful," he said. "The conversations we're having are in the long-term interests of our success."
Many Glenwood families say the school's Mandarin Dual Language program is central to its identity. Thomas said the program was a major factor in choosing the school. "I lived in China for a while, and so I wanted my son to get exposure to Mandarin," she said. "I know even if he never speaks it fluently, it's just good for his brain. But what I've been impressed with is just how many parents are invested in this school and how invested the teachers are."
Glenwood will operate normally through the upcoming school year, and district leaders say programs based there - including the Mandarin program - will continue after the closure, though details may shift during the redistricting process.
Thomas said she is waiting to see what the district proposes before making decisions about her son's future school. "For my kid, he doesn't quite know what's going to happen," she said.
District officials said families will have opportunities to provide input before any redistricting plan is finalized. More information on next steps is expected in the coming months.
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