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Parents, students and advocates urge halt to Faith Ringgold closure, cite state law concerns
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Summary
Multiple parents, students and advocates told the Hayward City Council that the school district gave short notice and failed to follow state requirements for equity analyses and public metric-setting before closing Faith Ringgold Elementary; council said it is tracking the issue with the superintendent and school board.
Several parents, students and advocates spoke at the March 17 Hayward City Council meeting to oppose the proposed closure of Faith Ringgold Elementary, saying the school district did not provide required public notices or equity‑impact metrics before moving ahead.
At the podium, Araceli Orozco, a parent and student advocate, told the council she believes the district violated state law (cited in testimony with variant references, e.g., “AB 1912”/“AB 12 19”) by failing to develop or publish the metrics required for an equity impact analysis and for public comment. "No analysis was done," Orozco said, warning that special‑education programs at Faith Ringgold would be moved long distances and urging the city to press the district for transparency and a transition plan.
Other speakers described concrete impacts. Stephanie Jimenez said the district gave about three weeks' notice, has not provided a transition plan or clear answers about transportation and the disposition of site funds, and that some families would face multi‑mile bus rides to alternative schools. Claudia Pelayo said many families are immigrant residents with no vehicles or flexible work schedules and pleaded for the council to advocate on families' behalf. Rebecca Zaragoza said her TK child was thriving at Faith Ringgold and called the closure process "illegal," repeating witnesses' claims about the state's closure‑process statute. Student speaker Leonardo Jimenez said closing the school would upend friendships and academic progress.
Mayor Mark Salinas told speakers the council is "tracking" the matter and that he has spoken with the superintendent and some school‑board members; he said the city is monitoring the process to ensure legal requirements are followed. Council members did not take formal action at the meeting; no school‑board representatives spoke in response.
The parents’ testimony centered on three practical concerns: lack of a published equity‑impact metric and public hearing timeline, absence of a clear transition and transportation plan for displaced students (including special‑education placements), and short notice that families said prevented meaningful input. Staff and parents referred to the relevant state statute variably in the record; the district did not present a contrary explanation at this meeting.
Next steps: Mayor Salinas said the city is engaging with the superintendent and school board, and speakers asked the council to press the district to publish the metrics and provide a detailed transition and transportation plan before any closure takes effect.
