Lynwood Unified Advances Facilities Planning with First Recommendation on School Optimization

Lynwood Unified held its second Facilities Optimization Committee meeting on September 16, addressing the District’s enrollment challenges and long-term facilities needs while issuing its first official recommendation: relocating Hosler Middle School students to the Bullis Campus once the new Lynwood High School Imperial Campus reopens in Fall 2027.

The recommendation comes after the Committee – comprised of parents, teachers, staff and administrators – reviewed enrollment data, safety considerations and opportunities created by the Bullis Campus, where Lynwood High School is temporarily housed and will become vacant in 2027.

“Our goal is to ensure every student learns in a safe, modern and supportive environment,” Superintendent Patrick Gittisriboongul, Ed.D., said. “This recommendation is an important step toward aligning our facilities with the realities of enrollment and the needs of our community.”

Since 2015, District enrollment has decreased by nearly 4,000 students and is projected to decline by another 900 by 2028, leaving more than 6,000 empty seats across the District. Like many districts across Los Angeles County facing declining enrollment, Lynwood Unified must make difficult but strategic decisions to ensure every student continues to have access to high-quality educational opportunities.

The Committee – facilitated by Total School Solutions and guided by metrics established by the Board of Education – reviewed programs like special education and dual language immersion; current enrollment numbers; the capacity of schools to absorb students; and the physical condition of school sites.

According to the 2024 Facilities Master Plan and staff surveys, many school facilities face significant needs and upgrades:

• Lincoln, Lugo, Rosa Parks and Wilson elementary schools were highlighted for their significant challenges and deficiencies, including full asphalt replacement, new windows and roofs for aging original buildings, portables that are beyond their useful life and the absence of kitchens. 
• Hosler Middle School also shows critical needs, including roofing and window replacements, ADA compliance improvements and a dedicated playfield space. Students currently share green space with the adjacent city park.

By moving Hosler students to the Bullis Campus, the District can better plan how to use space, offer more programs and improve students’ overall experience.

While these findings don’t include recent improvements like painting or upgrades already in progress, they’re meant to guide conversations about which schools need further discussion around long-term facility use, possible consolidation and how to best support high-quality learning environments.

The Committee’s work will continue at its next meetings on September 30, October 14 and October 18, where members will review:

• Consideration of elementary schools for optimization
• Transportation and balance of student demographics
• Scatter plot maps of students’ locations
• Aesthetics and community impact
• Operating costs and feeder patterns
• Environmental factors (traffic, freeway access, etc.)

The Committee’s final set of recommendations will be presented to the Board of Education in November, with a final decision expected in December 2025.

To ensure transparency and community input, all Facilities Optimization Committee meetings are livestreamed from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on the LynwoodTV YouTube channel. Families and staff are also encouraged to submit questions and feedback through the District’s website.