School Officials Back Down On School Swap Proposal

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – The Sacramento City Unified School District made an abrupt about-face on the proposal to swap the student population on two campuses after strong resistance erupted from both schools.

Students and parents from Sacramento High Charter School and West Campus High School responded to the proposal to swap campuses by coming out in force to a school board meeting Thursday night and sharply criticizing the plan.

Officials had put forward the idea due to overcrowding at West Campus, but critics said it was ill-advised to shake up the student populations since both schools are performing well.

"This is our campus and this is where we are," said Sacramento High student Erik Harrell. "We shouldn't be forced to move."

The district board responded to the criticism by postponing any further action on the school swap indefinitely, effectively pulling it off the table.

"We've heard from our community, we've heard pretty loudly," said district superintendent Jonathan Raymond.

The board also decided to shelve proposals to close three elementary schools in response to mounting budget cuts.