More than a dozen parents and students from Duncan Holbert, which primarily serves children 0-5 years old with disabilities, said the school is crucial to her child’s success. (Pedro Gonzalez Renteria — Santa Cruz Local file)

WATSONVILLE >> A controversial proposal to relocate students from Renaissance High School and Duncan Holbert Preschool in the coming school year was pushed off by Pajaro Valley Unified School District trustees at a Wednesday meeting that went late into the night. But larger questions about school closures remain.

“As you see, my son is autistic,” said Jessica Ortiz in Spanish, as her young son ran cheerfully through the board room. Minutes before, he had swiped the gavel from the trustees’ table, before another attendee gently returned it. Ortiz, along with more than a dozen other parents from Duncan Holbert, which primarily serves children 0-5 years old with disabilities, said the school is crucial to her child’s success. 

“My son lost his fear of speaking there,” she said. “He couldn’t talk, and now he speaks two languages — more than me.”

Without warning, parents and teachers at Duncan Holbert last Friday were taken aback when the district released a proposal to relocate Duncan Holbert's students to other elementary schools across the district to make room for high schoolers from continuation school Renaissance High in La Selva Beach. Staff and students of the high school were similarly surprised and skeptical of the idea. 

District leaders had planned to bring the school reorganization back to the board for a vote in June. Instead, following pushback from dozens of attendees, the trustees directed Superintendent Heather Contreras to postpone the decision. 

A Sustainable Schools Advisory committee that formed in March to study possible school closures is set to return to the board with recommendations in November. 

School closures are meant to save the district money amid declining enrollment and persistent budget shortfalls. Trustees laid off dozens of teachers and mental health clinicians to help close the shortfall. The layoffs were finalized at Wednesday's meeting.

How to get involved

As district leaders consider decisions about the future of PVUSD, parents, students, staff and community members will have opportunities this summer to raise concerns, ask questions, and consider future district leadership. Spanish translation and interpretation is available.

Board meetings 

Agendas with topics to be discussed must be posted at least three days in advance. The meetings usually begin at 6 or 7 p.m. and are streamed live. Attendees may comment on agenda items or other topics, usually for between one to two minutes.  

Board meetings are scheduled for: 

• June 17.
• June 24. 
• July 15. 
• Aug. 5. 
• Aug. 26.  

See a full schedule for 2026 meetings. 

The meetings alternate between:

• PVUSD District Office Boardroom, 294 Green Valley Road, Watsonville.
• Watsonville City Council Chambers, 275 Main St., 4th floor, Watsonville. 

All board meetings are livestreamed on Youtube. 

Listening Sessions

Trustees hold virtual listening sessions prior to each board meeting to discuss items on the agenda or other topics. 

The meetings are held on Zoom, and are scheduled for 7-8 p.m.:

• June 22.
• July 13.
• Aug. 3.
• Aug. 24.
• See a full schedule for 2026.

The district also has an online form to submit questions.

School reorganization committee 

A 23-member Sustainable Schools Advisory group is studying possible school closures or reorganizations. Meetings are livestreamed on Youtube. The group will begin asking for public feedback in late June, said district spokesperson Alejandro Chavez.

The committee is set to meet at 5:30 p.m. on:

• May 28.
• June 10.
• June 23.
• July 14.
• July 22.
• Aug. 4.
• Aug. 19.

See a full schedule, documents under review and recordings of past meetings. 

Contact trustees and administrators

See contact information for administrators and staff in the district directory.

Vote or run for office

Three of seven trustee seats will be on the ballot in the Nov. 3 general election:

• Trustee area 1, now represented by Joy Flynn. Flynn said Thursday evening that she is not seeking reelection.
• Trustee area 4, now represented by Daniel Dodge Jr. who has said he is running for reelection. Pajaro Valley High School senior Eriberto Estrada has announced he is also running.
• Trustee area 5, now represented by Olivia Flores. 
• Trustee area 7, now represented by Misty Navarro. Navarro has said she is running for reelection. District parent Mads Realmuto has announced he is also running.

The filing period for candidates is set to open this summer.

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