A MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT REGARDING THE SCHOOL RECONFIGURATION DECISION

Dear Hacienda La Puente Unified families, 

At Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, we are committed to providing equity across all schools in our District and ensuring our students have the essential tools they need to achieve their academic and personal aspirations.

Over the last decade, school districts throughout the state have faced unprecedented challenges due to declining enrollment. The same is true for Hacienda La Puente Unified, requiring us to make some difficult decisions to ensure the continued success of our students and District.

Closing and consolidating schools is a very difficult decision, one that the District does not take lightly and community input and engagement are an integral part of the process. Thank you to the 3,027 individuals who completed our community input survey and the 227 participants who attended one of our three virtual and/or four in-person community meetings.

After reviewing enrollment, budgetary data and input from the community, Hacienda La Puente Unified’s Board of Education approved a Reconfiguration Plan during a meeting on November 9. 

The reconfiguration includes the closure of Bixby, Del Valle and Sunset elementary schools and Los Robles Academy at the end of the 2023-2024 school year; and reconfiguring La Puente and Workman quads grade K-6 schools to become grade K-5 sites; Sparks and Sierra Vista middle schools to become grade 6-8 school sites; Grandview College Prep Academy to become a grade 6-8 school site and Valinda School of Academics and Lassalette School to become grade K-5 sites.

For the 2024-25 school year, all Bixby, Del Valle, Sunset and Los Robles staff will be transferred to other HLPUSD schools; no staff will be laid off as part of the reconfiguration process. Students within the closed and reconfigured sites will be assigned to a nearby school.

The District will continue its open enrollment policy and allow students to apply to transfer to other schools within the District; students impacted by the reconfiguration plan will have priority in the open enrollment process. 

The reconfiguration plan does not include the high schools, no properties are proposed to be closed or sold, and there will be no staff or teacher layoffs due to reconfiguration. Class sizes will continue to follow state guidelines and remain consistent with current levels. The District will also hold school-site meetings for parents at the schools affected by the closures or grade reconfiguration to discuss the logistics of the transition and provide support for families. We will provide more information on these meetings as it becomes available.

Additionally, the school reconfiguration process will not impact services provided to our students receiving special education services in the District. 

We encourage you to visit our District’s Reconfiguration Information webpage to learn more about reconfiguring our campuses and find answers to frequently asked questions.

This is an exceptionally difficult situation, and we understand that our District community will need time to process and adjust to the change. We extend our gratitude to all the students, families, and community members who shared their thoughts during last week’s Board meeting. Despite the final vote in favor of the Reconfiguration Plan, rest assured that we heard and acknowledge all your comments and concerns, which will inform our steps moving forward in this process.

Hacienda La Puente Unified is committed to ensuring a smooth transition for our students, staff and families.

I want to thank our staff, families and students for their patience, collaboration and support as we move forward to ensure the ongoing excellence of our District for our students. We are partners in community, but above all, we are partners in your child’s future and will continue to provide every student with the tools and resources to achieve academic and personal success. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Alfonso Jiménez

Superintendent of Schools