SAN ANTONIO – Three North East Independent School District schools will close next school year following a unanimous decision at a school board meeting on Monday night.
The closures, which will impact Driscoll Middle School, Wilshire Elementary School, and Clear Spring Elementary School, have left parents concerned and uncertain about the future of their children’s education.
Ashley Nicoson, the parent of a student at Driscoll Middle School, said her family’s “heart was broken” by the decision.
“There was a lot of great discussion, and then unanimously 7-0, not one school board member voted nay,” she said.
The closures stem from efforts to combat declining enrollment and fuel concerns among parents about class sizes, convenience and access to educational resources.
In recent years, enrollment at Driscoll Middle School, Wilshire Elementary School, and Clear Spring Elementary School has dropped.
Driscoll experienced a 41% decline, Wilshire a 43% drop, and Clear Spring a 27% decrease.
For many parents, smaller class sizes and proximity to schools were crucial benefits that will now be lost. One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said the school’s location was “very convenient” for her family.
“The individual attention, right? The smaller class sizes were definitely a benefit,” the parent added.
Parents are also concerned about the impact on their children’s daily routines. Tim Springer, a parent with children at Driscoll, said the closure would burden families.
“Families who have sixth and seventh graders are going to have to figure this out: what’s the best move? Or especially if the bus transportation doesn’t take them to their next spot,” Springer said.
In response to the closures, NEISD officials have announced that Driscoll students will be consolidated into Garner and Harris Middle Schools. Wilshire students will be redirected to Northwood and East Terrell Hills Elementary Schools, and Clear Spring students will move to El Dorado, Serna, or Royal Ridge Elementary Schools.
Not all parents are reassured by the plans.
“The idea is to follow our friends where we can, but that’s not a guarantee,” said Nicoson, another parent expressing concerns about the distances involved. The parent noted that some new school options are “miles and miles away from this location.”
Despite their concerns, many parents acknowledge that the school enrollment numbers are not ideal. However, the transition has left them with a sense of uncertainty.
“When you transition to new schools, it’s not guaranteed that the same opportunities you had at your previous school will be the same at the new school,” Nicoson said.
The decision has left parents anxiously awaiting the next school year, uncertain about what changes and challenges lie ahead.
