Parents gather at Driscoll Middle School to voice their concerns over proposed school closures.
In San Antonio, parents are expressing growing concerns over the North East Independent School District’s proposed school closures amid declining enrollment. A recent community meeting saw parents voicing their worries over the potential merging of schools, including Driscoll Middle School and several elementary schools. The district’s plan, driven by a significant budget deficit and a drop in student numbers, targets various schools for consolidation, with the NEISD Board set to vote on the matter soon.
In San Antonio, excitement is enveloped in a cloud of concern as hundreds of parents gathered on January 29 at Driscoll Middle School for a heated community meeting. The atmosphere was thick with emotion as families expressed their worries over the North East Independent School District’s (NEISD) proposal to merge schools, responding to the ongoing decline in student enrollment.
NEISD has been holding community meetings since December, trying to keep families in the loop about its consolidation plans. Just last month, the district officially unveiled the options for school closures. Scheduled for the 2025-2026 school year, the potential consolidations target Wilshire Elementary School, Clear Spring Elementary School, and Driscoll Middle School.
The district’s decision is backed by a mountain of data. NEISD Superintendent Dr. Sean Maika has analyzed various factors to determine which schools to consolidate. This includes looking at cost efficiency and enrollment capacity. The facts are sobering: enrollment has taken a nosedive in NEISD, dropping by a staggering 17% over the last decade. Just to put this into perspective, the number of students fell from 67,971 during the 2014-2015 school year to only 56,262 this year.
As if declining enrollment weren’t enough, the district faces a challenging budget deficit of $39 million, requiring them to trim about $10 million annually over the next three years. The Long-Range Efficiency Committee, which boasts a roster of parents, community members, and school staff, has spent months poring over data on enrollment and operational costs. Their recommendation? It’s time to consolidate.
Driscoll Middle School currently has 534 students enrolled, which is just 38% of its full capacity of 1,410 students. Its potential consolidation partners, Wilshire Elementary and Clear Spring Elementary, have even lower enrollments—185 students at Wilshire (32% capacity) and 319 students at Clear Spring (55% capacity).
So, what happens to the students if these closures go ahead? NEISD plans to transition Driscoll students to either Harris Middle School or Garner Middle School, depending on their location. Over at Wilshire, students will either move to Northwood Elementary or East Terrell Hills. Clear Spring students may find themselves at El Dorado, Royal Ridge, or Serna, based on where they live.
Worried about transportation? Don’t fret! NEISD will provide bus services for any students living more than two miles away from their new schools, easing some of the logistical challenges.
It’s important to note that no school staff members will lose their jobs due to these potential consolidations. Instead, they will seamlessly transition to other campuses. However, many parents have expressed worries about increased commute times and the emotional toll of moving schools, particularly for those eighth graders nearing the end of their middle school journey.
Despite actively participating in these meetings, many parents feel as though the decision has already been made, draining some of the optimism from the room. The NEISD Board of Trustees is set to vote on this crucial plan on February 10.
Dr. Maika has emphasized that these critical decisions are necessary, given the financial hurdles and ongoing challenges facing public education. As the date draws closer, the community remains engaged, hopeful for a brighter educational future.
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