This opinion editorial was written by Simi Sardana, a school district administrator, parent of two LBUSD students, and member of Everybody’s Long Beach, a housing advocacy group.
The recent decision by the Long Beach Unified School Board (LBUSD) to close Hudson Elementary has stirred significant frustration and disappointment among community members.
It isn’t surprising, since school closures often spark strong reactions as families often choose neighborhoods based off of the schools within them. Many on social media attributed the decision to poor management by the District and City. While these frustrations are understandable, much of the concern stems from common misconceptions about the complexities of declining enrollment, the primary reason behind the district’s decision. LBUSD, like many districts across California, faces a steep decline in enrollment, and when enrollment declines, schools lose funding, which translates into fewer resources for students
To address declining enrollment, we have to look beyond district management (though poor management doesn’t get a pass) and focus on systemic issues like housing policy. As a school administrator who recently faced a closure and a parent of two LBUSD elementary students, I stress the urgent need for educators and parents to understand the critical connection between housing policy and the future of our schools.
This understanding also counters common misconceptions, such as the recurring comments on social media indicating that keeping smaller schools like Hudson open will inherently lead to smaller class sizes. Class sizes are generally set by teacher contracts, not by school size, so a smaller school doesn’t guarantee smaller classes. In reality, smaller schools often offer limited options—such as only one first-grade class; additionally, smaller schools may need to create combination classes when student numbers are too low to fill multiple single-grade classes. And for students on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), smaller schools means less choice and opportunities for mainstreaming into the general education setting.
To prevent further school closures and tackle declining enrollment, we must address the significant impact of housing challenges on our education system. Families are increasingly being priced out, often relocating inland or out of state in search of affordable options. Long Beach has been hit particularly hard, with KTLA reporting that both Anaheim and Long Beach lost nearly 1% of their population between 2022 and 2023.
This population decrease thins the pool of school-aged children in our community, leaving school boards with the painful task of closing and consolidating schools, which leaves staff, students and the broader community strained.
The housing crisis doesn’t just affect families; it also impacts the educators who serve our schools. Many of them cannot afford to live in the city, with the cost of rent averaging $1,749 to $2,801 per month, 13% higher than the national average according to apartments.com, and Zillow reports an average home value of $832,331, a 5.2% rise over the past year. When educators can’t afford to live in the city they serve, it hinders community connections, increases commute times, and undermines their ability to fully engage with and support the local students and families they work with.
The lack of three or four-bedroom rentals is especially challenging, and has direct impacts on families. I know this firsthand, as I’ve scoured the rental market searching for a three-bedroom home in Long Beach for my family, and found it nearly impossible to secure one. Even when new family-friendly housing developments are proposed, plans often get modified to prioritize smaller units, maximizing profits at the expense of families.
Housing policy may not be the first issue that comes to mind when we see headlines about school closures especially in a city that feels dense compared to our neighboring Orange County communities. However, if we want to preserve our public education system and prevent further school closures, we must advocate for a broader range of housing options — not just single-family homes, but also apartments, ADUs, townhouses, and everything in between. This diverse housing must be thoughtfully integrated into our communities by loosening, or even abolishing, restrictive zoning laws and rethinking outdated perceptions about high-density living. This type of advocacy can be done at the local level by attending and speaking at city council and planning commission meetings where decisions impacting housing are made.
Another recent announcement by California State Superintendent Tony Thurmond for schools to use district land to create affordable housing can leverage underutilized property, and create affordable living spaces that allow educators to live closer to their workplaces, reducing the aforementioned commute times and financial burdens educators currently face in the city. Diverse housing options promote equity by offering educators and essential school staff the opportunity to live in the same communities they serve.
By embracing a mix of housing types, we create vibrant neighborhoods that attract and retain families of all income levels. These inclusive communities help stabilize school enrollment, ensuring that our schools remain open, fully staffed and equipped to serve students effectively. Rethinking housing policy is not just an investment in our cities, but in the future of our public education system.
