Monday, June 15, 2009

Bidding school a fond farewell

This school, with predominantly Hispanic immigrants and Middle Eastern refugees as students, is closing because of budget cuts. - - Donna Poisl

Generations of students find its closing bittersweet

By Leonel Sanchez, Union-Tribune Staff Writer

EL CAJON — Nereyda Monzon remembers telling her 6-year-old son in March that his school would be closing. She had just finished reading a book about change to him.

“He was sad,” Monzon, 33, said about his reaction to the closing of Cuyamaca Elementary in El Cajon. “I said there's not enough money to keep the school open. You have to go to another school.”

Generations of El Cajonians learned to read, write and count at the school, which opened 61 years ago during the post-World War II population boom and will close in 15 days.

Such a neighborhood loss of a school is becoming more common, as districts face declining enrollment and financial issues. San Diego Unified officials said they will close North Park Elementary, and they are looking at whether to close other small elementary schools. The Del Mar Union School District also will study the possibility of closing a campus.
Click on the headline to read the rest of this story! This is only a small part of it.

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