SAN ANTONIO – The San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) recently communicated a significant change to its community: Rhodes Middle School will close at the end of the current school year. In an email sent to families and staff, the district announced that students currently attending Rhodes will be reassigned to Tafolla Middle School as their new home campus.
While the closure is proposed, it is pending a formal vote by the school board, which has prompted families in the district to organize a protest against the decision. The community’s concerns are particularly poignant for those with special needs students. “I’m worried of what would happen to people in special needs [classes] because I’m in special needs [classes],” expressed Steve Zapata, a student at Rhodes Middle School.
On Friday afternoon, parents and students gathered outside the school gates, chanting in support of Rhodes and voicing their opposition to the administration’s decision. This protest follows a related closure of Carvajal Elementary School, which raised additional concerns among parents about the direction of the district’s educational offerings.
SAISD faces a $45.9 million deficit, but district spokespersons have clarified that the decision to close Rhodes is not directly linked to financial issues. Instead, the administration cites “multiple years of poor academic performance” as the driving factor behind the closure. This recommendation also includes plans to build a new, state-of-the-art facility for the community using bond funds allocated for Rhodes and Carvajal.
Council member Teri Castillo attended the protest to show her support for the families impacted by this decision. “For teachers, support personnel, and parents to learn about this proposed school closure without a public input process is completely disrespectful,” Castillo stated. She also highlighted concerns regarding teachers needing to reapply for their positions at Tafolla Middle School, creating uncertainty and anxiety among staff.
Parents like Ashley Chavez are determined to voice their concerns at the upcoming school board meeting on March 23. “We are our kids’ voices, and we need to stand together and make this happen so our school can stay open,” said Chavez, reflecting a shared commitment among the community to advocate for their children’s education.
If the closure proceeds, it will mark the 26th school closure within the district over the past decade, raising questions regarding the long-term impacts on educational opportunities and community stability. The outcome of the school board’s decision remains to be seen, but the voices of Rhodes Middle School’s families are making it clear that they will not go unheard.
