Resident group Safe and Seguin urges council to consider school impacts from rapid development

Levi Robertson, who said he is a Seguin resident and the founder of a newly formalized nonprofit called Safe and Seguin, urged the city council on Thursday to consider the effects of rapid residential and commercial development on Seguin Independent School District.

Robertson thanked city staff, Mayor Donna Dodgen and the chief of police for meeting with community members and said Safe and Seguin — which he said has more than 500 members — seeks to connect teachers with community resources and programs. He asked council to schedule a future agenda item to allow teachers and community members to present concerns about development’s effects on schools.

Robertson told council he has attended every school board meeting since October and said the city’s growth is contributing to overcrowded classrooms, limited mental health resources and strained infrastructure. He said, “Seguin ISD has over 7,000 students and only 3 mental health professionals,” and urged the city to remember that the city’s decisions can ripple through classrooms and hallways even where the city lacks direct authority over the school district.

The mayor responded that, because the matter was not on the agenda, council could take Robertson’s remarks under advisement. Robertson said he would follow up with emails and resources to outline ways the city could support the district.

Why it matters: The comments reflect community concern about school capacity and student services amid local growth; Robertson requested a formal agenda item so council can hear from teachers and community members.

Council did not take immediate action on the request.