Parents and staff urge Lynwood Unified board to keep Lugo Elementary open amid optimization talks

Parents, teachers and community members pressed the Lynwood Unified School District board on Oct. 23 to halt plans that could close or repurpose Lugo Elementary, saying the small campus provides vital one‑on‑one support for students and that its loss would drive families out of the district.

Claudia Martin, a parent who identified herself during the public comment period, said district optimization meetings are not accessible to many Spanish‑speaking families and warned of enrollment loss if Lugo is closed: “If Lugo is closed, these kids are going to leave,” she said. Several speakers raised the same point, saying students attend Lugo because of its smaller classes and personalized attention.

Other parents described the potential effect on students with disabilities. A mother who identified herself as Evet, whose son receives special‑education services at Lugo, said moving her child to a larger school would increase his anxiety and disrupt therapy routines: “He likes Lugo because it’s a small school… If I take him to a bigger school, nobody’s going to know him,” she said.

Speakers repeatedly questioned the district’s transparency around the optimization process. Multiple commenters said community outreach and translation were insufficient, citing optimization committee meetings where, they said, parents could not comment or receive Spanish translation. Natalie (first name only) pressed elected officials on budget priorities and asked why, she said, some schools receive upgrades while Lugo has gone without major repairs.

Several public commenters accused the board of misprioritizing Measure funds, citing earlier campaign commitments and specific figures. Martina Rodriguez said the district has spent “half a billion dollars” from property taxes over the past decade and demanded an accounting for capital projects; another commenter cited a roughly $300,000 contract to paint Will Rogers as an example of misspent funds.

Board members acknowledged the public’s concerns during their reports and encouraged continued dialogue. Dr. Hardy said he had contacted families after an optimization meeting and offered to meet with parents; other trustees reiterated that the optimization committee is conducting a review of facilities needs.

The board did not take a vote on any school closures at the Oct. 23 meeting. Instead, the meeting record shows the board approved a series of consent and facilities items (see separate agenda actions) and confirmed that optimization work is ongoing. Parents in the gallery asked the board to provide a clear, dollar‑specific plan of what it would take to keep Lugo open and requested translated materials and additional community meetings.

The next regular Lynwood Unified School District board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 13, 2025.