***STATEMENT***
***SUPERVISOR WALTON AGAINST SCHOOL CLOSURES***

District 10 is home to one of the largest populations of children in the city, second only to one other neighborhood. The problem facing our schools is not a lack of students, but rather a lack of investment, quality programs, and equitable resource distribution. District leadership has consistently shifted its focus away from equity, neglecting the schools most in need of support.

Now, in the face of a fiscal crisis, it’s our schools in District 10 that are being sacrificed to balance the budget. This is a grave injustice, and it’s time we call it out. 

People claim that the recent recalls were about focusing on students. But I ask: which students? Does this feel like the district is truly prioritizing the needs of all students?

Since the recalls, we've witnessed an exodus of staff, unresolved payroll issues, declining student enrollment with families leaving the district, and now, we face a budget crisis with the threat of state takeover. 

In light of these concerns, I cannot support school closures at the expense of my community. Our students and families deserve better. We deserve better.

For these reasons, I will be asking the school district to postpone these closures until a more thorough assessment of their impact on students can be conducted.

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