HOUSTON – Four Houston Independent School District elementary campuses will close after this school year.
Late Thursday night, the board voted to close McDade, Rhoads, Grimes and Stevenson elementary schools. All four schools have less than 400 students enrolled. The decision will affect more than 1,300 students.
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"I wish there was something we could do," said Juliana Davis, who has three kids at Stevenson. "My second-grader has been here since pre-K, and we all planned on him finishing out here at Stevenson. I will miss the teachers, and all my friends will miss their classmates,."
Students from McDade Elementary will go to Paige, Cook and Kashmere Gardens elementary schools. Students from Rhoads Elementary and Grimes Elementary will attend the Woodson pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade school. Students from Stevenson Elementary will go to Memorial and Love elementary schools.
Some parents said they are looking forward to the change.
"I welcome it," parent Jane Eagleton said. "If we combine the best teachers with great programs, we would have a great school."
HISD officials said they believe the students will benefit by consolidating with surrounding schools that offer more programs. According to the district, the schools were too small to absorb the upcoming budget cuts. The district estimates the move will save about $1.7 million.
"Compared to what they owe, that's really nothing," said Roger Trevino, who has two kids at Stevenson. "I don't think it would have made a difference to let it stay open a few more years and let people adjust to the changes."
The school district needs to save money. It expects the state budget crisis will result in a $160 million cut in the amount of money the district will get from the state for the next school year.