Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education approves two closures
Edison Elementary School and a second campus are set to close after 2026–27, with staff estimating $2.8 million in annual savings.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — board approves edison and gompers closures, public comment (agenda items), and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The superintendent said the closures would not erase a projected $45 million deficit, but could help protect educational opportunities at other schools.
Two elementary schools now have an end date. The Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education approved closing Edison Elementary School and a second elementary school at the end of the 2026–27 school year. The Board of Education also approved changes to the boundaries that determine which schools receive students. Families, students and staff raised concerns about how the closures will affect transportation, special education services and their school communities.
The superintendent told the Board of Education that declining enrollment has left both campuses underused. Edison Elementary School serves 443 students and is at 44% of its program capacity; the other school serves 366 students and is at 38%. District enrollment has fallen from nearly 98,000 students in 2004 to approximately 59,800 today. The superintendent said the district faces a projected $45 million operating deficit and cannot maintain facilities built for a much larger student population.
Staff estimated the two closures would save approximately $2.8 million a year. The superintendent told the Board of Education that those savings would not solve the wider deficit. The next work is more immediate for families: student placements, school choice and the details of moving to new campuses. Board of Education members sought more information about transition supports and future uses for the two sites. The superintendent said the district would work through attendance boundaries, transportation concerns and crossing guard needs as it prepares for the closures.
Public Comment (Agenda Items): Request for District Policy on Bathroom Supervision/Documentation for Partially Verbal TK Students
A parent asked the Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education for a districtwide policy on bathroom supervision for students who cannot fully explain what happened at school. The parent said their partially verbal transitional kindergarten child came home with drawings or marks on their thighs. They said they contacted school staff but had not received a meeting with everyone involved or an explanation of the incident.
The parent asked for clear rules on who escorts students to the bathroom, how staff sign students out, how long a student may be there with a staff member and whether schools keep a log. They said documentation would help families understand what happened when a child has limited ability to describe the school day.
The parent said their child was attending a different campus because of construction and would not return to school until they understood what happened. The request was for a policy across the district, not just a response at one campus. The source describes the parent’s request to the Board of Education; it does not report a vote or a policy change.
Board of Education approves consent calendar with exception
The Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education approved its consent calendar 5-0, though one member excepted an after-school enrichment contract item from their approval. Staff said schools would select programs based on their needs, with funding allocated in proportion to participating students.
Families can look for their school’s enrichment offerings on the district website, which staff said is updated quarterly.
Families describe heat and odors at Monroe
Students and families told the Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education about heat, odors, headaches and nosebleeds at the Monroe campus. A parent said a district communication reported a classroom temperature of 102.6°F; speakers asked for broader testing, clearer updates and temporary spaces for students.
Families want to know what conditions students face during construction and where classes can safely meet.
Parents seek wider testing at Monroe campus
During non-agenda comment, parents asked the Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education to expand environmental testing at the Monroe campus. One parent said monitoring had not resolved questions about students’ symptoms; another asked that children move to other spaces while testing continues.
The requests concern whether testing covered every affected classroom and what students should do while answers are pending.
Board of Education reports shorter late-work window
The Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education heard a report that district grading guidelines now give students 5 days, rather than 10, to submit late work. The report described 20 coaches supporting 20 schools and 14 others providing targeted help; no vote was taken.
The late-work change affects students’ deadlines, while coaching support is directed to selected schools and subjects.
- Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education. One speaker criticized multiculturalism and diversity, referenced unrest in European countries, cited statements attributed to political figures, and characterized immigration as an invasion. The speaker accused the board of engaging in anti-American activity.
- Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education. A parent requested a clearly defined bathroom policy for TK/young students, citing an incident involving a non-conversational child and repeated unsuccessful attempts to meet with school leadership. The parent asked for documentation and logging of restroom use and supervision.
- Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education. Several speakers used a “zombie” theme to argue that overreliance on screens and generative AI harms literacy, critical thinking, and social skills. They urged limiting classroom technology use, reintroducing paper-based work, and adopting anti-generative AI policies and training.
- Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education. Multiple speakers raised concerns about Monroe Elementary classroom conditions, including heat, odors, symptoms such as headaches and nosebleeds, and limited testing. Speakers requested comprehensive testing, transparent communication, and moving students to safer spaces during investigation.
- Long Beach Unified School District Board of Education. A parent speaker said many Edison families could not attend due to fear and lack of transportation, urged the board to stand by statements supporting immigrant communities, and criticized allowing unrelated or hateful remarks during public comment. Legal counsel noted First Amendment rights.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
LONG BEACH had 70 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEBoard approves workers’ compensation settlement terms. The board reported that it approved settlement agreement terms in a workers’ compensation matter during closed session. The agenda summaries do not provide the settlement amount or other terms.
- GOVERNANCEClosed Session Report (Actions Taken). The Board reported actions taken in closed session, including an employment-related approval effective in 2026 and approval of a claims/litigation settlement item.
- GOVERNANCEStudents and families ask district to limit classroom screens and AI. Speakers argued that heavy screen use and generative AI can harm literacy, attention, critical thinking and social skills. They urged the district to use paper-based work for core learning and set limits on AI in assignments and classroom instruction.
- GOVERNANCENon-Agenda Public Comment: Special Education Parent Concerns About Communication and Student Support. A parent of a nonverbal child in a special education program reported difficulty obtaining meetings and clear information about their child’s day and requested written procedures and better communication and accountability.
- GOVERNANCENext governance community check-in set for November 10. Staff confirmed the next results-focused governance community check-in for November 10 at the YMCA in North Long Beach. The superintendent said a flyer would be shared.
- GOVERNANCEPublic Comment (Non-Agenda): Request for a Defined Bathroom Policy for TK/Young Students. A parent requested a clearly defined bathroom policy for TK/young students, citing an incident involving a non-conversational child and repeated unsuccessful attempts to meet with school leadership. The parent asked for documentation and logging of restroom use and supervision.
- GOVERNANCEClosed Session Action: Appointment of Acting Head Start Manager. The board reported action from closed session approving the appointment of Lizeth Ledesma as acting Head Start manager effective October 5, 2026.
- GOVERNANCEMotion to Extend Public Testimony Time (Agenda Items). Before agenda-item public testimony, the board voted to extend the public comment time beyond 30 minutes to hear 16 speakers.
- GOVERNANCEMotion to Extend Public Comment Time (Non-Agenda Items). The board voted to extend public comment time to allow all speakers to be heard during the non-agenda public comment period, including speakers from an overflow room.
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