Adelante Merger

Dear Adelante Community,

This is an update from the Adelante Transition Committee Meeting held on December 3, 2025. The committee continued its dedicated work to bring a smooth transition of our Dual Immersion program as we move to the new Adelante at Fischer. As we move forward, we know it is critical for us to provide clear and up-to-date information about the transition - we will continue to provide updates as soon as possible. If anything changes in our timeline or plans, rest assured you will be informed.

Committee Discussion Summary

The Committee spent this meeting addressing the transition timeline - specifically centering on facilities updates, logistics for teachers and staff, and how we will preserve the integrity of the Adelante educational model.

Facilities at New Adelante

I shared an update on December 2nd with both of Adelante’s community about our plans for the facilities at the new Adelante. The committee discussed these facilities plans in further detail and identified a need to share this information with families at upcoming community meetings. I plan to visit parent Cafecitos at both Adelantes next week to share this information in person. I am also planning to attend staff meetings in January - more information to come! 

Logistics for Teachers and Staff

Sandra Rivera, the President of the Alum Rock Educator’s Association (AREA), joined our meeting to share information about the staff transition, including moving classrooms. Overall, the committee questions centered around the following themes:

• Staff Assignments: Staff assignments will be determined according to the collective bargaining agreement, which uses seniority as the basis for picking preferences of school assignments. Additional information on assignments will be available in Spring of 2026.

• Packing Support: Teachers and front office staff will be provided 10 hours of paid packing time at the end of the year. Discussions are ongoing, but we hope to provide resources for staff to begin packing early in Spring 2026 to manage the move.

• Emotional Support: The committee emphasized the importance of planning space for processing grief and hosting "closing events" to help students, families, and staff manage the stress and anxiety of the transition.

Retaining the Adelante Dual Language Immersion Program 

As a district, we are committed to continuing the core Spanish dual language instructional program model at Adelante. The committee discussed more ways that we will retain the model including: 

• Retaining Balanced Language Classrooms: We will retain balanced classrooms with a balanced representation of both native English and native Spanish speakers to ensure students continue to learn from each other at the new Adelante.

• Prioritizing Single Grade Level Classes: Because dual Immersion teachers have the extra responsibility of planning curriculum in two languages and students receive bilingual instruction, combination classes (e.g. where 3rd and 4th grade shares a class) are not a standard in dual immersion programs. We are working to keep single grade level classes at the new Adelante.

Additional Topics

In addition to the topics above the committee discussed the following: 

• New School Logo: We are exploring a student-driven art competition to create a new logo for the new Adelante that represents both communities well.

• School Safety: There was interest in ensuring community safety on their walk to school - including working with community partners like SJPD on keeping streets walkable.

Upcoming Community Engagement

To provide direct clarification and answer questions, I will be visiting both school communities to share more about the new facilities at the next generation of Adelante. 

   

School	Event	Date & Time	Focus
Adelante II	Cafecito	Monday, December 15 @ 9:00 AM	Facilities Updates
Adelante I	Cafecito	Tuesday, December 16 @ 9:00 AM	Facilities Updates

 

Additionally, I will visit school staff meetings in January to discuss the transition with staff. 

We appreciate your patience and engagement as we work to build the new Adelante Dual Language Academy at Fischer. 

Sincerely,

 

Sandra Garcia
Interim Superintendent

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Estimada Comunidad Adelante,

Esta es una actualización de la reunión del Comité de Transición de Adelante, celebrada el 3 de diciembre de 2025. El comité continuó trabajando con dedicación para facilitar la transición de nuestro programa de Inmersión Dual al trasladarnos al nuevo Adelante en Fischer. A medida que avanzamos, sabemos que es fundamental proporcionar información clara y actualizada sobre la transición; seguiremos brindándoles actualizaciones lo antes posible. Si hay algún cambio en nuestro cronograma o planes, les aseguramos que se les mantendrá informados.

Resumen del debate del comité

El Comité dedicó esta reunión a abordar el cronograma de transición, centrándose específicamente en las actualizaciones de las instalaciones, la logística para los maestros y el personal, y cómo preservaremos la integridad del modelo educativo Adelante.

Instalaciones en New Adelante

El 2 de diciembre compartí una actualización con la comunidad de ambos Adelante sobre nuestros planes para las instalaciones del nuevo Adelante. El comité analizó estos planes con más detalle e identificó la necesidad de compartir esta información con las familias en las próximas reuniones comunitarias. Planeo visitar los Cafecitos para padres en ambos Adelante la próxima semana para compartir esta información en persona. También planeo asistir a las reuniones de personal en enero; ¡próximamente más información!
  

Logística para docentes y personal

Sandra Rivera, presidenta de la Asociación de Educadores de Alum Rock (AREA), participó en nuestra reunión para compartir información sobre la transición del personal, incluyendo el traslado de aulas. En general, las preguntas del comité se centraron en los siguientes temas:

• Asignaciones del personal: Las asignaciones del personal se determinarán según el convenio colectivo, que utiliza la antigüedad como base para elegir las preferencias de asignación escolar. Se proporcionará información adicional sobre las asignaciones en la primavera de 2026.

• Apoyo para el embalaje: Los profesores y el personal de recepción recibirán 10 horas remuneradas de tiempo para empacar al final del año. Estamos en conversaciones, pero esperamos proporcionar recursos para que el personal comience a empacar a principios de la primavera de 2026 y pueda gestionar la mudanza.

• Apoyo emocional: El comité enfatizó la importancia de planificar espacios para procesar el duelo y organizar "eventos de cierre" para ayudar a los estudiantes, las familias y el personal a manejar el estrés y la ansiedad de la transición.

Manteniendo el Programa de Inmersión Lingüística Dual Adelante

Como distrito, nos comprometemos a continuar con el modelo básico del programa de instrucción bilingüe en español en Adelante. El comité analizó otras maneras de mantener este modelo, incluyendo:

• Mantendremos aulas equilibradas con una representación equilibrada de hablantes nativos de inglés y español para garantizar que los estudiantes sigan aprendiendo unos de otros en el nuevo Adelante.

• Priorización de clases de un solo grado: Dado que los docentes de inmersión dual tienen la responsabilidad adicional de planificar el currículo en dos idiomas y los estudiantes reciben instrucción bilingüe, las clases combinadas (por ejemplo, donde 3.º y 4.º grado comparten una clase) no son estándar en los programas de inmersión dual. Estamos trabajando para mantener las clases de un solo grado en el nuevo Adelante.

Temas adicionales

Además de los temas anteriores, el comité discutió lo siguiente:

• Nuevo logotipo de la escuela: estamos explorando una competencia de arte impulsada por estudiantes para crear un nuevo logotipo para el nuevo Adelante que represente bien a ambas comunidades.

• Seguridad escolar: Hubo interés en garantizar la seguridad de la comunidad en su camino a la escuela, incluido el trabajo con socios comunitarios como SJPD para mantener las calles transitables.

Próxima participación comunitaria

Para brindar aclaraciones directas y responder preguntas, visitaré ambas comunidades escolares para compartir más sobre las nuevas instalaciones en la próxima generación de Adelante.

Escuela	Evento	Fecha y hora	Enfocar
Adelante II	Cafecito	Lunes 15 de diciembre a las 9:00 a. m.	Actualizaciones de las instalaciones
Adelante I	Cafecito	Martes 16 de diciembre a las 9:00 AM	Actualizaciones de las instalaciones

Además, visitaré las reuniones del personal de la escuela en enero para discutir la transición con el personal.

Agradecemos su paciencia y compromiso mientras trabajamos para construir la nueva Academia de Lenguaje Dual Adelante en Fischer.

Atentamente,

Sandra García
Superintendente interina

August 2026. Adelante I and Adelante II will merge into a single Adelante Dual Language Academy at the former Fischer Middle School site in August of 2026, per the Board of Trustees' decision taken in December 2024. The merger is part of Alum Rock Union Elementary School District’s fiscal solvency, with final action already taken.

No. Our teachers and staff are committed to providing the same quality instruction provided at the merged Adelante as they do at Adelante I and Adelante II - the quality will remain the same. Students will also receive the same rigorous and well-supported dual language program that they have come to expect. We will continue to foster high academic achievement and bilingualism for all students.

With a larger student body, and classes with specific science labs and others, there is greater flexibility to offer greater course offerings, including advanced classes.

There was strong interest expressed among families and staff in offering advanced courses for students. Currently, we are exploring the options to offer advanced courses, including the possibility of Dual Enrollment classes. We are working to finalize a specific course list.

Currently, the Board of Trustees has appointed an Ad Hoc Committee on the Adelante Transition to discuss facilities and are meeting to discuss all options available to ensure all classes and students will be welcome in August 2026. Additional information will be provided after December. 

Class size maximums will not be impacted. The class size will be limited to the sizes outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Alum Rock Educators Association and ARUSD. The student-to-adult ratios will be the following: 10:1 in TK, 24:1 for K–3, 31:1 for grades 4–8, and Bilingual school classrooms shall not exceed 30 students. There are other specialized classroom limits for special education, for example, but are not listed here.

Yes! The former Fischer site, which will host the joint Adelante, has all the space and capacity to hold extra-curricular events that the current Adelante's offer. All after-school activities and programs will have an opportunity to continue at the joint school, with more students able to participate in the offerings.

ARUSD administrators will meet with staff bargaining units to discuss the Adelante I and Adelante II merger, as well as staff allocation and assignments. This process will comply with collective bargaining agreements and Education Codes. We will have more information closer to the start of the school year.

The joint Adelante site will offer parking for staff and family visitors. Depending on need, we could explore adding additional parking at the site at a future date.

Yes! The district remains fully committed to sustaining SEL services, including counseling and wellness programs. We are also evaluating community needs to ensure there are enough counselors and support staff to support students and provide a smooth transition for all students.

We are working on final details for how these fences will look like.

Currently, staff from Adelante I and Adelante II are scheduled to meet five separate times to collaborate on curriculum and instructional offerings, as well as build relationships with peers as we enter merged school. Staff will receive more information from their principals on these meetings.

We understand the concern caused by a larger student body in regards to student safety. However, with additional staff at the site, we will have more support for supervision across campus. We will