The overview
NEISD Superintendent Sean Maika said the decision to consolidate schools was due to a variety of factors that were years in the making. This includes an oversaturation of nonpublic school options within the district, such as charter and private schools; laws enacted by the state Legislature; and a lack of single-family homes being built.
Maika said the 110 charter schools throughout Bexar County, the 74 private schools, homeschooling, school pods and online schools have chipped away at the student body.
“All of this choice leads to [the student decline] you’re seeing,” Maika said.
District officials said the major issue NEISD is facing is a $10 million budget shortfall, and that by consolidating campuses and repurposing the buildings, the district will save an estimated $5 million. District officials said along with other savings implemented throughout the district, the consolidation will net roughly $10 million in savings.
Maika also noted that the issue is not just affecting NEISD but is a statewide issue.
“It's happening all over,” Maika said. “I was just reading this morning. Aldine [ISD] in Houston has seven up for consolidation. Carrollton-Farmers Branch up in the Dallas area, which isn't a very large system to begin with, is looking at consolidation of four campuses. It is truly a systemic issue.”
A closer look
District officials created a list of the most common concerns after receiving 84 responses during community meetings and community feedback forms. District officials said they would use this list to help shape the final process of the consolidation plan.
Common concerns include:
- Location of new schools
- Transportation and increased distance
- Performance of new schools compared to current schools
- Student support
- Choice options
Proposed Wilshire Elementary School changes:
- Students living east of Corrine Drive and Harry Wurzbach Road will go to East Terrell Hills Elementary School.
- Students living west of of Corrine Drive and Harry Wurzbach Road will go to Northwood Elementary School.
- No changes will be made to middle and high school boundaries.
Proposed Clear Spring Elementary School changes:
- Students living north of Wurzbach Parkway will go to El Dorado Elementary School.
- Students living in the eastern portion south of Wurzbach Parkway will go to Royal Ridge Elementary School.
- Students living in the western portion south of Wurzbach Parkway will go to Serna Elementary School.
- No changes will be made to middle and high school boundaries.
Proposed Driscoll Middle School changes:
- Students living northeast of Thousand Oaks Drive will go to Harris Middle School.
- Students living southwest of Thousand Oaks Drive will go to Garner Middle School.
- No changes will be made to high school boundaries.
Proposed plans for the three campuses include repurposing Clear Spring Elementary School into an alternative center, repurposing Driscoll Middle School facility for the district’s alternative education program or as a police substation, and using campuses as pickup and drop-off points for magnet school transportation.
Additionally, Maika said the district will retain all staff from the consolidated campuses.
“We’re not going to cut anybody. Everybody that is impacted in our schools, from a paraprofessional to a custodian up to the principal, will have a position in our system. We are large enough that every year we have enough attrition to absorb all of these spots, not only that, but we’re going to hold harmless for a year so they are not impacted financially,” Maika said.
The bottom line
Prior to the vote on the approval of the school consolidation plan, District 2 trustee Tracie Shelton made a motion to delay the vote to April; however, after discussing how the delay would affect the district's budget, the motion failed with a vote of 5-2.
After continued discussion, trustees voted unanimously to move forward with consolidation. District officials said they would be in contact with affected students and their parents as they finalize the plans.
