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San Diego's Small Schools May Close Due to Budget Crisis

San Diego school superintendent Terry Grier says the district may have to close a number of small schools as a result of an $80 million loss in state education funding. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis ha

San Diego's Small Schools May Close Due to Budget Crisis

San Diego school superintendent Terry Grier says the district may have to close a number of small schools as a result of an 80 million dollars loss in state education funding. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.

Grier says there are handful of local schools that have between 100 to 200 students. He says it costs as much as half a million dollars to keep some those small schools open. The district's new leader says closing the campuses is an option to save district money.

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Grier: We have an elementary school here that we project will have a 107 student no you can now you can pick those same students up and move them literally two miles of where they are currently going to school. And save that money and use that building for another purpose.

Grier acknowledges closing any school creates a big rift in the school community. But he's no stranger to controversy. Before he came to San Diego, Grier came under fire in North Carolina because he cut programs, introduced reforms and spoke his mind.

Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.