HOUSTON – Houston Independent School District (HISD) Superintendent Mike Miles says closing schools is not something he wanted to do but believes the district has reached a point where it can no longer delay the decision.
“These are hard decisions all the time,” Miles said. “I don’t like closing schools because a community should have a community school.”
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BACKGROUND: HISD superintendent announces closing 12 schools
Here’s what he said when questioned about the closures:
Q: What do you say to families who feel blindsided?
Miles: “There’s no good opportunity or no date that’s best to announce it. At some point, you have to announce.”
He said the district has been evaluating potential closures for two years and noted previous leadership also discussed the possibility.
“It’s not a total surprise that we announced it.”
Q: In November, you said there were no plans to recommend closing schools at the end of this academic year. What changed?
Miles: “We looked at our enrollment — PEIMS data that’s official at the end of October — and [there was a] larger than expected decline in enrollment for various reasons.”
He also mentioned structural problems that surfaced in recent months and worsening facility conditions.
“Yes, I wish we didn’t have to, but now’s the time. I can’t delay it any longer.”
Q: If the bond had passed, would this decision have happened?
Miles: “If the bond had passed, yeah — any bond would help a school district.”
However, he said some schools would still have faced closure due to low enrollment, and bonds are typically used to replace deteriorating facilities.
“Some of the schools would still be small and we still would have to be closed.”
Q: How can you say students are moving to better learning environments if some receiving schools have lower TEA ratings?
Miles: “We’re talking about A and B schools — so a B school or an A school going to a B school — and the numbers are really close.”
“We don’t have any F schools. And we don’t have a handful of D schools. No child is going to a D- or F-school in this.”
He added that there may be “one or two” cases of students moving to a C-rated or low-B campus.
Q: Other districts, including Fort Bend ISD, involved parents for months before voting on closures. Why didn’t HISD take a similar approach?
Miles: “Every community is a little bit different and every community does it differently.”
He noted the district has delayed closures for three years and previously published Facility Condition Index (FCI) data outlining building conditions.
Over the next couple of months, he said parents will be able to visit new campuses and receive more details about transitions, transportation, and school choice options.
Q: Why close Fleming Middle School if it’s been highlighted as a successful model campus?
Miles: “The instructional model is not the issue.”
He said the school’s facility condition and low utilization rate were key factors. The campus building is decades old and has significant maintenance needs.
“Especially because they’re doing well instructionally and academically, they deserve a facility that matches their progress.”
Q: What happens to teachers? And will other campuses become overcrowded?
Miles: “Closures does not equal cutting teachers.”
He said employees who would have been retained will continue to have jobs within the district, though they may be reassigned.
READ MORE: HISD to notify teachers at potentially closing schools of job placements by April 17
As for student capacity: “We’re not worried about overcrowding.”
Q: What happens to the school buildings?
Miles: “Before the end of this year, [we’ll have] a clear idea of what that property is going to be.”
Miles said a special committee will meet with each affected school community to gather ideas for future use of the properties.
Ideas could include selling buildings, converting them into social service centers, or repurposing them for other community needs.
READ MORE: As HISD considers closing 12 schools, what could happen to the buildings
HISD says students will be placed at nearby campuses with access to courses, extracurriculars, and student services.