Judson ISD is looking to close three elementary schools in the 2026-27 school year to curb at $37 million budget shortfall.
The board is considering closing Ed Franz Leadership Academy, Park Village Blended Learning Academy and Rolling Meadows Elementary following a recommendation from district administration during a special board meeting on Feb. 21. Board President Monica Ryan was absent from the meeting.
The board of trustees will have another special board meeting Feb. 24 at 5 p.m. to take action on the elementary schools they are considering closing.
What we know
The recommendation is based on the district-wide distribution of students, school proximity, growth, enrollment projections and future repurposing, according to the meeting presentation.
Although district boundaries would have to be redrawn, the board presentation inferred that students attending Ed Franz would go to the Fine Arts Academy at Olympia or Crestview Elementary. Students attending Park Village Blended Learning Academy would go to Hartman or Paschall Elementary. Students attending Rolling Meadows would go to Selma Elementary.
Public input
There were nearly two hours of public comment.
Kristi Wlodarczyk, a teacher at Rolling Meadows, said the campus is the largest on the closure list, with room to grow. This year, Rolling Meadows is ranked third in the district for reading and math growth and attendance has increased for students and staff, she said.
“We’re not failing, we’re not declining, we’re thriving. Closing us would not balance your spreadsheet; it would dismantle a community that is doing everything right,” Wlodarczyk said.
Levi Jones, a JISD parent with children who have special needs, said this would be the third year in a row that his children would not have a stable place. He said his kids have been bounced around to different schools due to program changes.
"With that being said, [my children] currently attend Park Village Blended Learning Academy. My children have been at Spring Meadows, they receive exceptional support while there. However, the continued transition from year to year as parents, we don't know what school we're going to be at next year. Hartman Elementary does not have a special needs program for my children to attend," Jones said. "As this goes forward, please look at the community that we are trying to educate and please, do not rob my children of their educational success."
Miller's Point Elementary Principal Joshua Ellis said he was concerned about whether the district was considering the right campuses for consolidation and the staffing cuts that may follow.
"I know I speak for many elementary principals when I say that there are no more places on an elementary campus left to cut staff and still have a safe and academically successful campus," Ellis said.
Heather Smith, a teacher at Ed Franz Leadership Academy, said the school is a 'B' rated campus that is not in decline, but is committed to excellence.
"We're told that this is about declining enrollment, yet Franz has the room to grow," Smith said. "Parents have already stated that if Franz closes, they will be moving their students to charter schools. That does not solve enrollment decline; it accelerates it."
What they're saying
Newly appointed Interim Superintendent Robert Jaklich said school closures are not just an issue for JISD, but for many schools in San Antonio and across the state.
Trustee Suzanne Kenoyer thanked those who came to the meeting to speak and the people who sent them emails.
"I will repeat what I've said to most of you, which is this is really, really hard stuff, hard decisions to make and I do appreciate all the input," Kenoyer said.
Board Vice President Amanda Poteet apologized to the community.
"We're sorry that we're here. I don't think any of us are happy that we're here, but it's just the situation we find ourselves in," Poteet said.
In similar news
The board also approved closing Judson Middle School during a Feb. 16 special meeting, which will yield the district an estimated average annual savings of $2.5 million, as previously reported by Community Impact.
Stay tuned
Following the Feb. 24 meeting, where the board is anticipated to vote to approve the elementary campus closures, district faculty will begin meeting with campus staff, establish academic program reassignments and relocations and communicate the employee transition process. The district will also publish a closure timeline, finalize boundaries, bus routes, registration, enrollment and school of choice, according to the meeting presentation.
