Houston ISD (HISD) has proposed moving students from seven small schools into different buildings, part of the district’s historic $4.4 billion bond proposal. This “co-location” plan aims to save costs by consolidating schools with declining enrollment and financial challenges, particularly in majority Black and Latino neighborhoods.
HISD’s co-location plan involves moving students from eight schools into seven existing campuses with more space. The district plans to spend $580 million of the bond funds to renovate or rebuild the campuses that will take in additional students. These co-located schools would share communal spaces like cafeterias and gymnasiums, but each school would retain its own staff and operate independently of the others.
HISD is dealing with declining enrollment, which makes it difficult to maintain operations at smaller schools. Consolidating these schools is seen as a cost-saving measure. However, the impact of this consolidation on communities, especially those that are majority Black and Latino, raises significant concerns.
Michelle Williams, President of the Houston Education Association and 2nd-grade teacher at HISD is one of my critics of the district’s decisions. She understands how many people may be confused about the meaning behind a co-location. She defines it as a school closure. In July, HISD considered co-locating 35 additional schools, largely elementary and middle schools, if the bond passes, although it decided not to move forward with them. The schools under consideration are Ashford, Burrus, Eliot, Kennedy, and Shadowbriar elementary schools and Fonville, Henry, and West Briar middle schools.
“It’s a school closure in reality, but not on paper,” she said in a video explainer. “Look at Kashmere Gardens it was slated to be closed because it was in corrective action in 2016. It was in it’s fifth year of decline. How do I know? Because I worked there in 2017…It was just the same plan they were going to carry out before to actually close these schools.”
What Families Should Know
The HISD community, especially families from affected schools, needs to understand the full scope of this co-location plan and what it means for their children. HISD officials have started holding meetings to inform families about the move’s logistics timeline and how they plan to ensure a smooth transition if the bond passes in November.
Timeline for Implementation : According to Najah Callander, HISD’s senior executive director for external engagement, if the bond passes, the new schools might not be ready until August 2028.
Impact on Students : The district promises that co-located schools will operate independently, which could help ease concerns about overcrowding or the loss of each school’s unique identity. However, the reality of sharing spaces like cafeterias, gymnasiums, and playgrounds could lead to new challenges. Parents are especially worried about how the consolidation could affect student safety, school culture, and the quality of education.
Community Feedback : HISD attempts to engage with the community to get feedback, but some parents feel this is insufficient. Families can attend meetings and share their thoughts through forums like Parent-Teacher Organizations (PTOs) and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs). HISD encourages families to participate, but critics argue that the plan has already been made and that these meetings are more about informing parents than genuinely listening to their concerns.