A federal judge on Monday denied a bid by parents seeking to prevent Sacramento City schools from closing seven elementary campuses, saying blocking the district was not warranted based on the evidence plaintiffs presented in court.
U.S. District Judge Kimberly J. Mueller, in her 39-page ruling denying a request for a preliminary injunction, said that the plaintiffs "do not have a fair chance of success on the merits" of their claims.
A dozen students and their parents filed suit last month in federal court, complaining that the Sacramento City Unified School District chose to close campuses in low-income and predominately minority neighborhoods that are "without political influence or organization" and, instead, keep other schools open in predominately white neighborhoods.
School officials have said the closures are necessary to help balance the budget and estimated the district can save millions of dollars over several years by eliminating campuses that are underutilized.
The school district issued a statement after the ruling signaling that officials there are ready to move forward.
"Closing schools is never easy, and the decision to close seven chronically under-enrolled schools was difficult for all involved," the statement said. "With Judge Mueller's ruling today, SCUSD hopes to finally put closures in the past and move forward with our challenging work of providing the best education we can to the students we serve throughout the district."
The plaintiffs, represented by attorney Mark Merin and the community group, Hmong Innovating