Aldine ISD School Board Votes to Close Six More Campuses
The Aldine ISD school board voted to close six more schools, bringing the total number of closures in the past year to nine, as the district grapples with a budget deficit and a decline in its student population.
Background
The north Houston school district voted to close six campuses: Smith Elementary, Eckert Elementary, De Santiago EC/PK/K School, Raymond Elementary, Oleson Elementary, and Stovall EC/PK/K School. Board member Viola M. Garcia was the only no vote on all six motions to close the schools. According to the district, affected staff and students will be transferred to other campuses for the next school year.
Parenthood’s Plea
Carolina Perez, the parent of a Raymond Elementary student, wrote in her comment that Raymond and its staff have had a positive impact on her three children. "It would be an honor if my youngest daughter could continue her education and graduate from Raymond like her two sisters did," Perez wrote in a statement that was read aloud to the board. "I love all of Raymond’s staff. They have made Raymond such a welcoming place for my daughters. … Please vote no to the closing of Raymond and the six other Aldine ISD schools."
Board’s Decision
As the board worked through the six motions to close each campus, several members spoke about the difficulty of the decision. "I would even suggest that everyone on this board has some type of personal relationship with, not just the schools themselves, but also the students from those various schools," board member Randy Bates Jr. said. "But, that doesn’t stop us from having the responsibility to be stewards of taxpayer monies that are given to us."
Funding and Enrollment Decline
According to the district, the closure of the six campuses is expected to save Aldine ISD approximately $25 million as the district has had to run a deficit budget for the past two years. Aldine is currently one of many public school districts in Texas to be faced with a funding shortfall as the state legislature has not increased the per-student allotment since 2019. Efforts during the last legislative session were unsuccessful as Gov. Greg Abbott vowed to veto any legislation to increase public school funding that did not also fund a school voucher-like program.
Conclusion
The decision to close six more campuses is a difficult one, but it is a necessary step to ensure the long-term sustainability of the district. The district will work to ensure that students and staff impacted by the closures have the support they need as they transition to their new campuses.
FAQs
Q: Why is the district closing six more campuses?
A: The district is closing six more campuses to address a budget deficit and declining student population.
Q: How will the closure of the campuses affect students and staff?
A: Affected staff and students will be transferred to other campuses for the next school year.
Q: What is the expected cost savings from the closures?
A: The closure of the six campuses is expected to save Aldine ISD approximately $25 million.
Q: What is the reason for the funding shortfall in Texas public schools?
A: The state legislature has not increased the per-student allotment since 2019, leading to a funding shortfall for many public school districts.
