School Board Postpones Vote for Middle School Reconfiguration, Seeks More Community and Staff Input

The Proposed Reconfiguration for three middle school campuses as presented by Superintendent, Dr. Carlos Rios at Monday, September 16th's Board Meeting.

SFDR-CISD Superintendent, Dr. Carlos H. Rios presented a brief summary of his proposal for the 2025-2026 Middle School Reconfiguration during the School Board Meeting on Monday, September 16, 2024. A reconfiguration that would include creating three separate 6-8th grade campuses to alleviate overcrowding at the current middle school, improve academic success, safety, and grant students more opportunities and preparedness for higher education. 

Several board members raised questions and concerns about the proposed reconfiguration and the logistics of such a big change before the upcoming school year. “My concern is, we got the community input but we (the board) have not been able to reach out to the teachers in the Garfield Elementary campus and the campuses that will be receiving the extra children,” Amy Haynes, Place VII Board Member began. “So I’d like for us to have some feedback from those teachers and that staff, because those are the people that are gonna be impacted the most.” 

Dr. Rios replied that faculty meetings were planned once the board took action on the proposal with teachers and administrators at the campuses that would be impacted as well as additional parent meetings at every elementary school campus in the district. Upon asking if those meetings could be scheduled before action is taken on the proposal, Dr. Rio stated, “it is possible, it is the board’s decision.” 

Vice President, Joshua D. Overfelt asked, “Are we going to have to ask TEA for more waivers for class size to teacher ratios in the affected elementary schools as we disperse students among the campuses?” To which Dr. Rios responded, “We don’t foresee any additional need for increased waivers due to the rezoning.” Dr. Rios also clarified that all moving materials and services for teachers moving to new campuses will be provided by the district. Going off of that concern, Board Member Diego Almaraz asked, “Do we have the classroom vacancies to house these students at these schools after the redistribution?” Dr. Rio assured that there was ample space to accommodate these changes. School Board President, Raymond P. Meza stressed the importance of making sure that each campus is equitable in resources, computer labs, libraries, learning centers, and so on.

Though Dr. Rios pressed the need to make at least a start on this reconfiguration and emphasized the urgency of taking action as soon as possible, the board ultimately felt the need to postpone the vote to approve the reconfiguration until more staff meetings and public forums can be held to ensure that all sides of the issue are heard and addressed. Board Member Rebekah L. Chavez echoed Dr. Rios’ emphasis on needing to at least get the ball rolling on the research and data needed to successfully reconfigure the middle school campuses, “I would agree with you getting the demographer, if this is going to happen, there needs to be a starting point.”

With the superintendent’s revised recommendation, the board unanimously approved the contract for Dr. Rios to begin working with a demographer to complete a demographic study that would help the district ensure that there is a socioeconomic balance in students divided amongst all three campuses and recommend the best rezoning and transportation routes as well as any updates and improvements to facilities before August.  

The proposal for the establishment of the District Facility and Operations Citizens Committee was also presented to the board. The Committee would act as an advisory committee in the planning for the 2025-2026 Middle School Reconfiguration, selected members would be participating in several meetings leading to recommendations to the Board of Trustees as to how to best move forward with the reconfiguration of the schools, reviewing the demographic study, and facility improvements. The appointment of members is left up to the board, who leaned in favor of nominating two community at large members and one teacher per board member. 

A Special Meeting will be called at a later date to take action on the Middle School Reconfiguration Proposal and the proposed District and Operations Citizens Committee. No dates have been set for another public forum but Connect Del Rio will be following the story as the district moves forward with staff meetings and the demographic study.