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Marblehead parents, PTA urge Capistrano Unified to keep school open and expand programs
Summary
Parents, PTA leaders and community members asked the Capistrano Unified School District Board on Jan. 15 to halt plans to close Marblehead Elementary and instead pursue program expansions and enrollment strategies, citing community ties and building condition.
Marblehead Elementary parents and PTA leaders told the Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees on Jan. 15 they oppose proposed closure and urged the district to seek alternatives that preserve the campus.
The speakers—members of Marblehead PTA and local parents—said the school leads the district in declining enrollment but argued that the site is in good repair and could host expanded programs such as dual-language immersion, STARS, special education and expanded transitional kindergarten. “Marblehead PTA stands against closure,” said Tony Matarani, identified at the meeting as Marblehead PTA president, reading a resolution adopted by the PTA on Jan. 9. Andrea Manning, Marblehead PTA treasurer and the school's CAC representative, asked the board to “seek and support solutions that will optimize usage of the Marblehead campus for Capistrano Unified School District operated public school students and programs.”
The speakers told trustees they feel the district underutilized the site and that closure would harm a Title I community with many marginalized students. “These decisions are not just financial. Your actions will make a permanent and lasting impact on our kids and our community,” said Stephanie Dugas, a PTA bilingual representative and garden coordinator at Marblehead.
Why this matters: marblehead sits in a part of the district with strong demand for Spanish dual immersion programs; PTA members argued the campus could help meet that demand without building new facilities or moving students. They asked the board to follow California Department of Education school-closure best practices and to pursue options such as program expansion or co-location rather than shuttering the site.
Board context and next steps: trustees heard nine oral-communication speakers during the public comment period. District staff listed Marblehead among schools under study for utilization; trustees did not take a vote on the campus during the Jan. 15 meeting. Several PTA members said they will submit the adopted PTA resolution and supporting materials to the board for consideration.
Community detail: speakers urged trustees to visit Marblehead, tour the campus and engage parents and staff before making any decision. The PTA resolution asks the district to prioritize Marblehead over facilities described as in ill repair or that rely on temporary structures. The PTA also requested transparent, early stakeholder engagement if closure is still considered.
Ending: Trustees did not act on Marblehead during the Jan. 15 meeting; the issue remains part of the district’s ongoing facility-utilization review and will be considered in future meetings where staff reports and potential recommendations may be presented.
