San Antonio ISD engages community in inaugural meeting to discuss potential school closures.
San Antonio ISD, the school district in San Antonio, is currently seeking community input on its “rightsizing” plan, which involves the closure of 19 schools. The first meeting to discuss this plan was held on Saturday morning.
Under the proposed rightsizing plan, the district aims to address the issue of declining enrollment by closing several schools, with most closures expected to take place next year. The full list of schools set to close can be found here.
During the meeting held at Lowell Middle School on Saturday, parents and staff were given the opportunity to provide feedback on the new proposal. The district’s Superintendent, Jaime Aquino, explained that the closure of underutilized campuses would allow for better allocation of resources, ensuring that students receive the best possible education.
Currently, the district has approximately 45,000 students spread across 100 campuses. However, some of these campuses are operating at only half capacity, which can lead to resource constraints. Aquino highlighted that the district receives around $9,000 per student from the state, but it can cost more than $14,000 to cater to the needs of individual students in certain campuses. As an example, Aquino mentioned visiting a campus where the social worker was only available once a week.
By consolidating students and closing schools, Aquino believes that students will have access to more elective courses such as theater, music, and even Mariachi classes, in addition to improved overall educational resources. Aquino shared an anecdote about a mother who expressed excitement at the possibility of her child having a full-time music teacher. He emphasized that once the rationale and vision behind the plan are explained, it helps alleviate some concerns.
However, community members raised several questions during the meeting. One person asked about the process for deciding which administrators would oversee each school, while another expressed concern about the potential negative impact on academic achievement for the affected students.
Aquino reassured the attendees that class sizes should not become excessively large, as most schools have ample extra space. He also emphasized the district’s commitment to retaining all teachers and staff throughout the process, stating that nobody would lose their job, including principals.
Aquino acknowledged that the district needs to carefully evaluate each campus to prevent the loss of students. He emphasized that if the process is not carried out effectively, families may choose alternative options for their children’s education.
In determining which schools to close, SAISD took into account enrollment numbers, the cost per student, and additional contextual criteria. Aquino explained that while some schools met the first two criteria for closure, they were ultimately kept open to ensure continuity of programs for the students.
Most parents expressed concerns about the appointment of a new principal after the merger of two schools or the safety of having middle school students in close proximity to elementary school students. Yvonne Hernandez, Principal of Lowell Middle School, addressed these concerns and assured parents that the staff at Lowell is prepared and eager to merge with another campus if necessary. She emphasized their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all students.
SAISD’s rightsizing plan is set to be approved on November 13th, and if approved, the district will proceed with the necessary mergers and closures.
