SAN ANTONIO – Thousands of San Antonio ISD students and group of workers will quickly learn if their schools can be closed subsequent 12 months for just right.
The SAISD Board of Trustees is anticipated to take a last vote on Monday night time on the district’s “rightsizing” plan.
The vote would be the finish of a months-long procedure that began in June to scale back the volume of schools in SAISD, however many oldsters and neighborhood individuals are nonetheless combating to have their voices heard.
Shannon Oster-Gabrielson is one of many SAISD oldsters combating till the tip to stay their faculty open. Her daughters attend Lamar Elementary, one of 15 schools that might shut after this 12 months.
“I was shocked that Lamar was not removed from the list,” mentioned Oster-Gabrielson. “We’re in a very unique position that’s often used against us. One-third of our, of our students come from the neighborhood. The rest come from the district and from across the city.”
On Friday, SAISD launched its ultimate advice for varsity closures and mergers inside the district. The authentic draft really useful 19 closures.
Collins Garden, Pershing, Ogden, and Riverside Park fundamental schools have been got rid of from the general listing, whilst Lamar used to be now not.
“We are a high-performing school; we have some of the best outcomes of all the elementary schools in the district,” mentioned Oster-Gabrielson. “When you look at the equity report that was published, it says that students that move from a high-performing school to a lower-performing school have lower outcomes, that our students will be impacted.”
SAISD officers mentioned the closures are essential as a result of of declining enrollment and to consolidate assets.
Over the previous decade, the district went from over 54,200 students to 45,200 this 12 months, in accordance to the Texas Education Agency.
Oster-Gabrielson mentioned SAISD rushed the method.
“They had a series of neighborhood meetings. Initially, they did not go to every school. They made no attempts to encourage parents. They sent some emails. There was maybe a flier sent home. We couldn’t be a part of the original criteria,” mentioned Oster-Gabrielson. “They’re closing our school and we deserve to have a voice.”
“I think it’s a bad call. This has been a good school for a lot of kids and it’s been a great feeder to other schools,” mentioned Bill Bordelon, an area resident.
Bordelon wondered SAISD’s decision-making procedure and mentioned Lamar’s ultimate would have a long-term have an effect on on households.
“You’re taking these kids out of a secure, safe environment that they all know each other,” Bordelon mentioned. “Another thing I’m concerned about is the bond money we voted for. If we had know these schools would be closed, we wouldn’t have voted for that. And I feel like there’s a bit of deception considering the fact the superintendent said we’ve known for years some of these schools need to be closed.”
If the board approves the general advice, students from Lamar would transfer to Hawthorne Academy beginning subsequent faculty 12 months.
“That’s not meant to disparage our receiving school, but what that does is that says they don’t care about our 316 students right now. That’s OK if our outcomes suffer,” mentioned Oster-Gabrielson.
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