HOUSTON – The Houston ISD Board of Managers unanimously voted 9-0 Thursday to close or consolidate 12 schools across the district, but not before a woman was removed from the meeting by police.
The incident took place around 6:45 p.m. Thursday.
“I’m a parent of one of the affected campuses and we weren’t called in the first group, so we’re going to go now,” she said as she walked up to the podium.
She was asked whether she had registered to speak.
“You know, it turns out y’all didn’t communicate very clearly and welcome us affected parents into this process, that affects all our teachers,” she said.
She was allowed to speak by the board.
“Three years ago, my kid attended an excellent neighborhood school, she checked out books every week from her library and she was taught by experienced, qualified, certified teachers, who challenged her creativity and her critical thinking skills and had devoted their lives to our community,” she said before turning around. “But for the past three years, I’ve had to watch as you destroyed this school, piece by piece,”
The woman continued.
“You forced out a beloved principal because she wouldn’t bend her knee to policies that harm our children. You replaced books with worksheets, closed the library, replaced teachers with screen time, which we know harms children’s learning, mental health...”
At that point, she was told her time was up. The woman continued speaking and was given a warning that if she continued, she would be asked to leave. When she continued again, police came up to escort her out of the building.
The woman briefly jumped on the podium.
“Schools in River Oaks and Montrose aren’t on the chopping block,” she said, before being removed.
The board then took a brief recess.
Following the end of public comment, the motion passed unanimously.
Parents feel ignored
Following the vote, several parents told KPRC 2 they felt the outcome had already been decided before public comment even began.
“It felt like the decision had already been made,” said Deysy Arellano, whose son attends Port Houston Elementary. “As soon as we saw the votes, you know, I felt anger.”
Arellano said her son is in pre-K and has thrived at the campus during his first year.
“It’s really heartbreaking only because now I have to go home and explain it to him,” she said through tears. “I have to go home and explain to him, you know, we won’t be going back to that school.”
Another parent, Vianey Torres, who has two children at Port Houston Elementary, said she believes families were not given a fair opportunity to be heard.
“I just feel like today we were robbed. It was not a fair fight. They already knew the outcome,” Torres said.
Torres said she and other parents have concerns about transportation, safety and academics if their children are reassigned.
“Port Houston is rated a B school,” she said. “The school that they’re trying to send us to is a C school, so it’s a grade difference.”
She also described walking the proposed route to the new campus.
“It’s very unsafe. It’s a secluded area. There’s a creek. There’s two lane street. So it’s fast cars passing by. They blow through stop signs. It’s not a safe area.”
District leaders said temporary shuttle service would be provided and that a transportation request survey will open in early May.
Torres questioned how that would be funded.
“They’re saying that they don’t have money for it. But they’re over here saying they’re gonna have shuttles. So all of a sudden, money’s gonna appear out of nowhere. That’s what I don’t understand,” said Torres.
Torres said she is now considering leaving the district entirely.
“I think I’m gonna start looking for another district to send my kids to,” said Torres.
For Torres, the decision is deeply personal. She said Port Houston played a critical role in her son’s development.
“My son, he made a significant strides. He’s speaking full sentences,” she said. “He went from being a SPED kid that was nonverbal. To now saying full sentences. So it’s just devastating.”
Now, like Arellano, she says the hardest part will be talking to her children.
“I’m gonna have to break the news to my kids,” Torres said. “They’re gonna take it hard.”
The board’s vote came after hours of public comment and emotional testimony from families and teachers. Following the unanimous decision, the meeting briefly recessed before adjourning.
HISD leaders say impacted teachers will be notified about job placements by April 17.
Under the approved motion:
- N.Q. Henderson Elementary students would move to Bruce Elementary
- Port Houston Elementary students would also move to Bruce Elementary
- Fleming Middle School students would relocate to Mickey Leland College Preparatory Academy
- Rose Elementary students could move to Roosevelt Elementary or C. Martinez Elementary
- Burrus Elementary students would transition to Kennedy Elementary
- Franklin Elementary students would move to Gallegos Elementary
- Alcott Elementary students would attend Mading Elementary
- Hobby Elementary students would relocate to Lawton Middle School
- Cage Elementary students would move to Lantrip Elementary
- Briscoe Elementary students would transition to Carrillo Elementary
- Gulfton Middle College would relocate to a nearby campus