|
TRI-VALLEY (California) HERALD
Last day forever for Delta Island School in San Joaquin County
By Aaron Swarts
TRACY — Teacher Debbie Borba has been a staple at Delta Island School
for 24 years.
As the longest tenured member of the teaching staff, it stands to reason
that hearing the bell ring for the last time Friday afternoon was a
particularly emotional moment.
"I've been trying to hold it together for the kids," she said, while
packing up her classroom and fighting back tears. "It's been rough, but
we have been trying to focus on business as usual, teaching right up
until the end."
Delta Island, a rural K-5 school of about 150 students, is the latest
victim of the Tracy Unified district's budget problems.
This year, trustees cut more than $15 million from their operating
budget. With Delta Island's aging facilities, polluted drinking water
and high operating costs, the board felt it had no choice but to close
the school, to save more than $700,000 annually.
"We knew this day was coming for a while," Borba said. "But packing up
is still very emotional. This is the only place I have taught during my
24-year career."
Borba says she will remain with the district but is not sure where she
will teach next year. Students will attend either North or Villalovoz.
Like Borba, 11-year-old student Miguel Franco has only known Delta
Island. He is a little nervous about the future.
"I've been going to this school my whole life," he said. "I'm sad that
it's closing. I don't know if the other schools are going to be as much
fun."
Victor Reyes, 13, a former Delta student, has been busy reassuring his
younger siblings.
"My brother and sister are a little sad to be changing schools because
they are going to miss all of their teachers," he said. "I told them
that on the bright side they would be going to a bigger school where
they will meet lots of new friends. I also told them not to worry
because the teachers are nice, and there are a lot more activities you
can get involved with."
Paula McElroy taught at Delta Island School from 1988 through 1993. She
came from her home in Idaho on Thursday to say goodbye to the campus,
which tailored its programs to serve the region's children of migrant
farm workers.
"It is really tough to see this school close," she said. "Delta Island
had a unique place in this community, and I worry that these children
will no longer have their needs met."
McElroy says she understands the economics of the situation but still
believes that if circumstances were different, the school might have
remained open.
"I think if these children represented a group that had more power, this
would never happen," she said. "But that isn't the reality of the
situation."
When the closure was first announced several months ago, a small
contingent of parents protested. At the time, Superintendent Jim Franco
explained that the students' best interests were at the heart of the
decision.
"It comes down to a number of variables," Franco said. "But our first
priority is to provide a high quality of education for our students in a
safe environment. We feel we can continue to offer that high quality of
education to Delta students at one of our newer facilities that is more
cost-effective to run."
|