Carpinteria board votes to close Family School, citing falling enrollment and budget pressure
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Summary
The Carpinteria Unified School District board voted Feb. 10 to close Carpinteria Family School after enrollment fell from about 70 to roughly 20 students and district officials said the move would save roughly $120,000 in 2026‑27. Parents and union leaders urged alternatives during public comment.
The Carpinteria Unified School District Board of Trustees voted Feb. 10 to close Carpinteria Family School, citing declining enrollment and budget pressures.
District staff told the board that enrollment had fallen from about 70 students five years ago to roughly 20 (12 fourth‑graders and eight fifth‑graders) and that the family‑school staffing model—three teachers and three instructional aides—costs approximately $540,000 per year. The superintendent recommended moving the current family‑school teacher to Catalina to teach the existing fourth‑grade cohort alongside Catalina fifth graders and adding a transitional kindergarten classroom at Catalina, an action the district said would reduce the 2026‑27 budget by roughly $120,000.
Parents and students who spoke during the public‑comment period described the family school as a close, multigrade learning community that supports students’ social and academic growth. One parent, Jessica Petrillo, said the school had been a reason families chose to stay in the district and recalled more than 40 community comments in opposition when the closure was first proposed last year. A student speaker, Malik, told trustees the school felt “like a second home.”
Trustees acknowledged the emotional impact of the decision while saying the district must align staffing and program costs with enrollment and broader fiscal constraints. Several trustees emphasized transition plans to keep current students with familiar teachers where possible; one trustee noted the district’s intent to move the family‑school teacher to Catalina for continuity.
The motion to close passed after board discussion and a second; the board recorded its approval during the public meeting. The minutes and public record show the board is implementing the staffing reassignment and budget adjustments described at the meeting.
Next steps: the district will finalize assignments for affected students and staff, and parents will receive follow‑up information about transitions and program placement. The board did not vote on any reversal at the meeting.
