School board considers reconfiguring schools

Split vote results in no action

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As if dealing with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic closures wasn’t enough, Gonzales ISD Superintendent John Schumacher asked the school board on Monday to consider reconfiguring the schools.

“Alright board, I woke up the other night and thought, ‘hey, I want to rock some people’s world,’” he joked while introducing the agenda item at the board’s first meeting in person since the closure started in March.

The board members were seated at individual tables at least six feet apart and the audience was adequately spaced as the room was full of teachers and staff eager to have their input into the process. In the end, the board, minus one member, split its vote and no action was taken.

“I want you to know I’ve been thinking about this since the first time I got here last June,” Schumacher said.

“I began right away to notice that the configuration, in my mind and as an educator, didn’t best fit essentially the educational purposes in what we’re trying to do in supporting students,” he added.

He presented the board with three options. The first two options move students out of North Avenue Intermediate School, minimizing the number of times students transition to new buildings as they move through the system. The third option was no change at all.

In the first plan, Gonzales Primary Academy becomes a school for Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities (PPCD) and pre-kindergartners, East Avenue Primary would house kindergarten through second grade, Gonzales Elementary would have grades 3-5, and Gonzales Middle School would have grades 6-8. The high school would not be affected by any of the plans.

The second plan only moves the fifth graders from North Avenue to Gonzales Elementary and the sixth graders to the middle school, leaving the kindergartners at Gonzales Primary.

“North Avenue, we would utilize it in different capacities,” he said.

Several of the administrators, principals and teachers who spoke said the plans had many benefits along with some challenges. Among the benefits were the age-appropriate groupings of pupils in the buildings and the elimination of a building transition. It would benefit Texas Education Agency rankings because some of the schools don’t have enough grades to show progress.

“It’s been very hard for some of the schools in Gonzales to get distinction,” said East Avenue Primary Principal Brandi Bell.

There are also financial advantages in terms of food service and having more students qualify a building for free lunches in the free and reduced lunch program. Parents with children in multiple schools would also have fewer drop-offs and pick-ups to do.

Board Vice President Gloria Torres said she felt the subject came up too quickly and she wanted more time to study it. There were also concerns raised about being able to move everyone in time. An additional challenge would be the possible reduction of staff by eliminating a building.

“We want to keep our teachers,” Schumacher said. “We want to keep what we have.”

He said he has been studying the configuration and meeting with people in the district to figure out options that would be in the best interest of the students.

Following a lengthy discussion, the board voted to postpone a vote until after their executive session at the end of the meeting. Not long after that, board member Josie Smith-Wright left with a migraine headache.

When the board did vote, the first voted down implementing Plan 1 in the 2020-21 school year 4-2. They then split 3-3 on implementing the plan the following school year.

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