Central Elementary went out more like a block party than a quiet goodbye as generations of Imperial Beach families packed the nearly 75-year-old campus for a carnival-style sendoff last week. Students, alumni and teachers crowded the cafeteria stage, danced, played games and mixed mariachi music with cotton candy as they saluted a school that has anchored the neighborhood for decades. The South Bay Union School District plans to close Central at the end of the school year, with the final bell set for June 5, turning the night into both a farewell and an impromptu reunion.
A Carnival Farewell
The May 21 celebration drew families, former staff members and county officials and was documented by photographer Zoë Meyers, according to inewsource. The outlet quoted sixth-grader Jace Sipa telling the crowd, “Even though our school is closing… a part of Central will always be with us,” capturing the tone of the night. Longtime teachers who had taught multiple generations of local children were recognized on stage, and organizers presented district leaders with a framed brick from the campus as a keepsake of Central’s long run in the community.
Board Vote And Enrollment Slump
The upcoming closure traces back to a May 2025 school board vote as South Bay Union officials confronted years of declining enrollment and budget troubles, ABC 10News reported. District leaders and outside reviews warned that keeping the aging site open would require expensive capital projects, and Axios noted that modernization costs were estimated in the tens of millions of dollars. Trustees ultimately concluded that consolidating campuses was the more realistic option to keep programs afloat across the district.
Where Students And Staff Will Land
Under new attendance boundaries, most Central students will head next school year to Bayside STEAM Academy, Emory, Mendoza or Oneonta, with officials pledging transportation and other support to help families through the change, according to inewsource. Parents can request transfers, but final placements will be based on the new maps the board approved last year, which district leaders say should more evenly spread enrollment across schools. The reassignments are part of a multi-year plan, the district argues, that is needed to stabilize its finances.
District Posts Highlights And Next Steps
The South Bay Union School District’s events calendar lists June 5 as the last day of school, and the district posted a highlight reel of Central’s farewell on its YouTube channel. The South Bay Union School District site lists upcoming meetings and other calendar items, while the video captures many of the night’s standout moments. School leaders say they will keep families updated on student assignments and staffing changes as they lock in plans for next year.
A Mixed Goodbye
Residents described a mix of pride, sadness, and frustration as they prepare to lose a neighborhood institution, with parents and teachers voicing concerns about the disruption even as they toasted Central’s legacy. Local coverage has tracked both the sendoff and the broader fight over campus closures and potential staffing changes as the district works through a deficit, ABC 10News reported. With Central’s last bell still ahead, city and district officials say they will continue meeting with families to make the transition a little less painful.
