The Alum Rock Union School District is facing the closure of seven schools to address a budget shortfall, according to Superintendent German Cerda.

On Nov. 14, district trustees will review Cerda’s recommendation to shut down seven schools, merge two, and revamp another campus. Cerda is calling on the school community to voice their opinions during the public meeting.

“We have an assigned state and county auditor, and even with district-wide staff reductions and budget adjustments, we won’t come close to addressing the $20 million annual deficit,” Cerda explained.

Parents described the plan as devastating and have taken to rallies and protests to urge the district to find alternative solutions.

District representatives attribute the issue to declining enrollment. In 2015, the district had over 10,000 students, but that number has dropped to around 7,200 this year.

Cerda emphasized, “The board will make the final decision, but I want to ensure they have all necessary information so that their decision is well-informed.”

The board is anticipated to reach a final decision on the proposed closures during the first week of December.