Hayward Unified School District Redistribution of Students upon Faith Ringgold Elementary School Closure
Summary
SCH Number
2026061205
Public Agency
Hayward Unified School District
Document Title
Hayward Unified School District Redistribution of Students upon Faith Ringgold Elementary School Closure
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
6/26/2026
Document Description
On February 25, 2026, the Hayward Unified School District (District) approved the 2025-26 Fiscal Stability Plan, which includes the closure of Faith Ringgold School of Arts & Science (Faith Ringgold Elementary). The closure was identified as part of a series of budget solutions developed to address a $7 million shortfall in the District’s ongoing unrestricted general fund. Among the recommended budget solutions, staff reductions from closing Faith Ringgold Elementary is anticipated to reduce District expenditures by approximately $462,000 annually during the 2026–27, 2027–28, and 2028–29 fiscal years. This CEQA analysis evaluates the potential physical environmental effects of the proposed actions, which include:
1. Closure of Faith Ringgold Elementary; and
2. Redistribution of students to receiving schools.
Contact Information
Name
Chien Wu-Fernandez
Agency Name
Hayward Unified School District
Job Title
Superintendent
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
Hayward
Counties
Alameda
Regions
Citywide
Cross Streets
Multiple
Zip
94541
Parcel #
Multiple
State Highways
N/A
Railways
N/A
Airports
N/A
Schools
Multiple
Waterways
N/A
Other Location Info
1570 Ward St; 456 Laurel Avenue; 2424 East Avenue; 2184 Thayer Avenue; 23515 Maud Avenue; 352 Harder Road; 27679 Melbourne Avenue; 411 Larchmont Street; 26268 Flamingo Avenue; 28761 Hayward Boulevard; 27000 Tyrrell Avenue; and 30565 Treeview Street
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15282(i)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project qualifies for this exemption because it involves the closure of
Faith Ringgold Elementary and the consolidation of operations among 11 existing receiving schools.
As a result of the closure, a total of 152 students would be redistributed among the receiving schools. Sufficient capacity exists at all 11 receiving schools to accommodate projected 2026–27 enrollment, with the exception of Treeview Elementary, which is projected to exceed enrollment capacity by one student. This nominal exceedance is within the range of typical year-to-year enrollment fluctuations and operational flexibility and does not represent a meaningful increase in capacity or intensity of use of the school site. In addition, the enrollment projections used in the analysis are conservative, and the District anticipates that actual enrollment may be lower than projected.
The receiving schools would accommodate the projected 2026–27 enrollment without the need for additional classrooms or expansion of existing facilities. No programmatic or physical changes are proposed as part of the project.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15301
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project qualifies for this exemption because it involves the continued
operation of existing school facilities with negligible or no expansion of use. The project consists of the closure of Faith Ringgold Elementary and the proposed redistribution of students to 11 existing elementary schools. No physical alterations, construction, or expansion of facilities are proposed at Faith Ringgold Elementary or at any of the receiving schools.
Projected 2026–27 enrollment at each receiving school would remain within the enrollment capacity of each campus, with the exception of Treeview Elementary, which is projected to exceed enrollment capacity by one student. This nominal exceedance is within the range of typical year-to-year enrollment fluctuations and operational flexibility and does not represent a meaningful increase in intensity of use. In addition, the 2026–27 enrollment projections are conservative, and the District anticipates that actual enrollment at each receiving school may be lower than projected.
Accordingly, the redistribution of students represents the consolidation of
enrollment within existing facilities and would involve negligible or no expansion of existing use.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15314
Reasons for Exemption
The project qualifies for this exemption because no additional classrooms are proposed at any of the receiving schools as a result of the closure of Faith Ringgold Elementary. Therefore, the project would not increase original student capacity by the lesser of 25 percent or 10 classrooms.
As evaluated, all 11 receiving schools have sufficient capacity to accommodate the 152 students proposed for redistribution from Faith Ringgold Elementary. While Treeview Elementary is projected to exceed its enrollment capacity by one student, this nominal exceedance is within the range of typical year-to-year enrollment fluctuations and operational flexibility and does not represent a meaningful increase in capacity or intensity of use. In addition, the enrollment projections used in this analysis are conservative, and the District anticipates that actual enrollment
may be lower than projected.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
California Code of Regulations, title 14, section 15322
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed project qualifies for this exemption because it involves the closure of
Faith Ringgold Elementary and the consolidation of operations among 11 receiving schools. No physical alterations are proposed at Faith Ringgold Elementary or at any of the receiving schools.
County Clerk
Alameda
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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