San Antonio Independent School District officials could use $76 million in unspent bond funding toward renovating a West Side elementary school and neighboring middle school — or, they could demolish both campuses and build a new, modern school serving grades pre-kindergarten through eight.
“What’s remaining could build a new vision for this community,” Patti Salzmann, deputy superintendent, told about 100 people gathered at Carvajal Elementary at an emotional meeting Thursday night on the school’s future.
The question of how to spend the funds remains as trustees will consider shuttering Carvajal at a meeting Monday. On Thursday, parents of the West Side elementary voiced anger, frustration and demands for accountability at the possibility of another campus closure in the city’s oldest public school system. In 2023, facing dwindling enrollment and financial pressures, trustees voted to close 15 campuses across the district.
Salzmann told Carvajal parents it would take at least three years to design and build a new campus. For now, the elementary is struggling both in enrollment and academics. Its student population fell from 499 in 2020 to 314 currently. The state graded the school an F for three consecutive years, and the campus is on track for a fourth straight failure that could result in a state takeover of the entire district, officials said.
SAISD’s enrollment fell by 1,600 students this year to about 42,500. The district can’t support small classes, including one with nine students at Carvajal, Superintendent Jaime Aquino told about 100 people attending the meeting. He cited pervasive declines in the district’s school-age population, lack of state funding to keep up with inflation and a threat of a state-appointed board of managers and superintendent, removing any local control from the district…