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The Houston Independent School District (HISD) recently announced that its strategic plans did not include plans to close schools.
According to Houston Chronicle, Houston ISD Superintendent Millard House II said that Houston ISD had no plans for school closures or consolidations in the strategic plan that is still in the works.
"There have been zero conversations about consolidations, and I think it is important for the community to hear that," House told Houston Chronicle. "Our focus is on our strategic work right now and what that looks like, and that has not included any conversations around closing of schools or small schools."
House wanted to be sure the public knew that there was not an existing list of schools that would be closed: "I think it is important to dispel that because it sounds like there have been people that have openly said that the district has created lists of schools that will be closing and that is absolutely inaccurate," he added.
The plan is scheduled to be unveiled in March.
"Our strategic work that will be presented in March will not include any school closings," House said. "I want to make that clear."
Representing schools in northeast and northern Houston, Trustee Kathy Blueford-Daniels urged for a focus on student safety and suggested that the district should complete the strategic plan while being mindful of how the pandemic has affected students.
“I am concerned with any conversations about school closures but right now the priority is the strategic plan and what that looks like — to improve student learning,” Blueford-Daniels said.
A proposal to shut down five schools in 2014 brought hundreds of parents to public meetings in protest of the course of action. The district has closed 31 schools in the past 10 years, the majority of which have been elementary schools.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact schools and students nationwide and as of Jan. 27, HISD reportedly had 1,584 active COVID-19 cases among its students and staff.