At SAISD, our focus is on preparing the children of San Angelo to be future-ready and thrive, while also being good stewards of public funds. Last school year, we announced our 3 District Goals: 1.) Student Engagement, 2.) Culture and Communication, and 3.) Innovative Learning Spaces. To support the third goal, Innovative Learning Spaces, SAISD is working to create a thoughtful Sustainability Plan designed with the future of the District in mind.
Preliminary efforts by the District for the Sustainability Plan include collaborating with a West Texas architecture firm for over 6 months on a facility study of our elementary school campuses, and identification of priorities related to infrastructure challenges and aging facilities, and economy of scale to support a district budget with lower enrollment. SAISD is exploring a recommendation for the Sustainability Plan for fewer elementary schools, reducing to 14 by the 2024-2025 school year.
San Angelo ISD Board of Trustees Vote to Adjust Attendance Boundaries as part of the Sustainability Plan
San Angelo ISD Board of Trustees Vote to Adjust Attendance Boundaries as part of the Sustainability Plan
On Monday, February 27, 2023 during the Regular Board Meeting, the San Angelo ISD Board of Trustees voted 6 to 1 in favor of the recommendation to combine Alta Loma Elementary attendance boundaries with Fannin Elementary and repurpose or shutter Alta Loma Elementary beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. Additionally within this vote, it was approved to combine Austin Elementary attendance boundaries with McGill Elementary and repurpose or shutter Austin Elementary beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. Renovations and new builds will be completed at Fannin and McGill Elementary without a bond measure.
Trustees voted 2 to 5 in opposition of the recommendation to combine San Jacinto Elementary attendance boundaries with Reagan Elementary beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, and repurpose San Jacinto Elementary as a flagship Early Childhood Education Center for Pre-Kindergarten and 3 and 4 year olds in the Early Childhood Special Education program. Trustees requested administration bring forward another recommendation and the updated recommendation will be made at the March regular meeting.
For more information on the Sustainability Plan process and updates, please visit www.saisd.org/sustainability-plan.
What is being proposed?
2-Phase Recommendation by Architecture Firm
Phase 1
(Combine 4 elementary campuses into 2, bringing total elementary Schools to 15.)
- Combine San Jacinto Elementary with Reagan Elementary beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, and repurpose San Jacinto Elementary facility as an Early Childhood Education center for pre-kindergarten and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) students.
- Combine Alta Loma Elementary with Fannin Elementary beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, and repurpose or shutter Alta Loma Elementary.
- Expand Fannin Elementary with renovation and new builds without a bond measure.
Phase 2
(Combine 2 elementary campuses into 1, bringing total elementary Schools to 14.)
- Combine Austin Elementary with McGill Elementary beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, and repurpose or shutter Austin Elementary.
- Expand McGill Elementary with renovation and new builds without a bond measure.
Proposed Timing
We are in the early stages of exploring the plan but are working quickly to make decisions so that our students, staff and families can prepare. Tentative dates are:
- Phase 1 - Complete to begin school combination and repurposed site by August 2023 (2023-2024 school year)
- Phase 2 - Complete to begin school combination and renovations by August 2024 (2024-2025 school year)
Data Informing Sustainability Plan Process
Facility Study
The Architecture Firm completed a Facility Study of our 17 elementary schools looking at: Facility condition, educational & spatial adequacy, age, capacity vs enrollment, operational costs, campus expandability, location of special programs. The data from this study enabled SAISD to consider benefits for SAISD from a budget perspective like opening up dollars previously spent on maintenance to go toward instructional resources and new, innovative facilities.
State-wide Trends
School districts are shifting to larger elementary schools of about 500 to 600 for optimization in instruction and operations. West Texas school districts are also trending this way like Lubbock ISD, Abilene ISD, Borger ISD, Plainview ISD, Big Spring ISD and Snyder ISD.
Benefits to Students, Schools and Community
Larger campuses (500-600 students) = instructional benefit and operational efficiencies, like:
- more support staff to help individual student learning,
- more instructional resources for students and staff like STEM lab support,
- increased professional learning opportunities for teachers
Economic efficiency: By balancing enrollment through reducing the number of elementary school campuses, SAISD will see an estimated annual savings per shuttered campus of $500,000. Operation of the elementary schools is typically about $2M per year. Combining campuses would enable SAISD to reduce energy consumption and operational costs for schools with spaces that are not being fully utilized but absorbing funds. Operation cost per student may be reduced by up to $2,000 per student.
Savings from Economic efficiency may then be reinvested into more instructional resources and staff and improvements to schools.
Centralized facility for pre-kindergarten and Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE), increasing instructional resources and professional learning opportunities for staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is SAISD looking at the Sustainability Plan?
- How does consolidating schools save the district money?
- How did the architecture firm determine which campuses were in consideration to be merged?
- What factors are considered in the potential consolidation of San Jacinto to Reagan?
- What factors are considered in the potential consolidation of Alta Loma to Fannin?
- What factors are considered in the potential consolidation of Austin to McGill?
- Which campus will my student attend if my campus is closed or repurposed?
- Will money be required to expand schools that are being considered for consolidation?
- How will class sizes be impacted by the merger of schools?
- Will bus transportation be offered to students impacted by the merger of schools?
- When will families know bus stops, routes, and times?
- Who will attend the Early Childhood Education center and what programs will be included?
- If ECSE is moved to an Early Childhood Education center to accommodate Pre-Kindergarten and younger, where will the ECSE 5 program be located?
- If ECSE is moved to an Early Childhood Education center, will ADA updates be made to accommodate students in special education?
- Will modifications be made to campuses to accommodate changes in campus size and programs including special education and the Early Childhood Education center?
- Will students be able to transfer to another campus if they wish? Will existing transfers still be honored?
- Will existing SAISD staff members retain a position at the District after consolidation?
Why is SAISD looking at the Sustainability Plan?
How does consolidating schools save the district money?
How did the architecture firm determine which campuses were in consideration to be merged?
What factors are considered in the potential consolidation of San Jacinto to Reagan?
What factors are considered in the potential consolidation of Alta Loma to Fannin?
What factors are considered in the potential consolidation of Austin to McGill?
Which campus will my student attend if my campus is closed or repurposed?
Will money be required to expand schools that are being considered for consolidation?
How will class sizes be impacted by the merger of schools?
Will bus transportation be offered to students impacted by the merger of schools?
When will families know bus stops, routes, and times?
Who will attend the Early Childhood Education center and what programs will be included?
If ECSE is moved to an Early Childhood Education center to accommodate Pre-Kindergarten and younger, where will the ECSE 5 program be located?
If ECSE is moved to an Early Childhood Education center, will ADA updates be made to accommodate students in special education?
Will modifications be made to campuses to accommodate changes in campus size and programs including special education and the Early Childhood Education center?
Will students be able to transfer to another campus if they wish? Will existing transfers still be honored?
Will existing SAISD staff members retain a position at the District after consolidation?
Our Promise
To our students, families, staff, alumni and greater community, we understand this is a topic that some members of our community care deeply about. As we work to further develop the Sustainability Plan, service to the student is our guiding priority along with the District goals and listening to those most impacted. We will continue to communicate updates to your school community, and provide opportunities for impacted students, teachers and community members to share feedback. With your support and input, this Sustainability Plan will help us to fulfill our mission of preparing our students to be future-ready.
News
Facilities Assessment Report
Parkhill, Smith & Cooper Facilities Assessment Report presented at the December 12, 2022 School Board Meeting
Informational Flyer
See below for a flyer with additional information and recommendations by the architecture firm relating to the Sustainability Plan.
Consolidation Considerations
See the document below for school-by-school comparisons of the advantages and disadvantages considered in the proposed Sustainability Plan school consolidations.
See below for a Sustainability Plan slide deck with additional information and recommendations by the architecture firm relating to the Sustainability Plan.
Town Hall Forums
These town hall forums are designed to hear from groups particularly impacted by the merger of schools, and serve as an opportunity for the district to collaborate with, and hear from, all interested community members.
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