San Antonio ISD School Closure Battle: Parents and teachers in San Antonio ISD oppose the school closure plan. The district’s list of 19 possible closures shocked and angered the community.
At a recent board meeting, parents and teachers expressed fear. Opponents of the board voiced their opinions more. Their main point was that closing schools would not only be administrative but also significantly impact communities. They talked about how these places gave them a sense of identity, security, and comfort they would never feel again.
Many at-risk schools are elementary schools, causing parental concern for children’s well-being and education.
A mom asked the board about more than just Lamar Elementary School. She cautioned the board about the plan’s effect on people’s unease and uncertainty as community leaders.
The San Antonio Alliance leader, Alejandra Lopez, disagreed. She asked for a mature approach. She didn’t understand the impact of school closures on children and families.
Many agreed with Lopez: schools’ future shouldn’t be decided privately. She said schools belong to the community, so they should have a say in their future.
The plan suggests closing schools, merging them, restructuring grades, relocating schools, and clustering them. Due to these changes impacting 23 sites, education will transform significantly.
The board will decide. Vote on the ideas list on Nov 13. Until then, people will keep fighting over these places’ fate. They want a say in their schools’ changes.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Why are they closing schools in San Antonio?
Act quickly: Decreasing birth rates and a scarcity of affordable housing in San Antonio’s city center have resulted in reduced enrollments in SAISD. The district started investigating closures during the summer and unveiled a plan in September to shut down 19 schools.
What happened in San Antonio Independent School District v Rodriguez?
The 1973 San Antonio ISD v. Rodriguez Supreme Court decision, with a vote of 5-4, determined that there is no constitutional guarantee of equal education. The ruling also stated that there was no infringement of rights in the Texas school system and that the control and organization of Texas’ public school finance system is the responsibility of the state.
Did Texas Public Education Finance System violate the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause by failing to distribute funding equally among its school districts?
The Texas system (411 U. S. 40-44) doesn’t infringe on the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Even though it’s not perfect, the system is logically connected to a valid state objective.
How many high schools are in San Antonio ISD?
The San Antonio Independent School District is home to 22 high schools.