Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
SAISD reviews Head Start sites, plans staff moves and facility evaluations
Summary
San Angelo ISD officials described a plan to relocate Council of Governments (COG) Head Start operations from Rio Vista and Day, move Special Programs staff into the former Oaks building, consolidate some programs, and later evaluate vacated properties for reuse or demolition.
San Angelo Independent School District officials updated the board on discussions with the Council of Governments (COG) about Head Start operations and related district facility moves, saying the district will move several Special Programs staff into the former Oaks building and evaluate older auxiliary campuses for repair or demolition.
District staff said the negotiations focus on both academic benefits for early learners and the fiscal cost of maintaining older buildings. “While we have a great partnership with COG, we know from our district data, the earlier we can have students in any structured environment, the better for their school success,” Doctor Gomez said during the presentation.
The presentation said COG currently occupies two district facilities, Rio Vista and Day, and that both buildings need significant work. To reduce maintenance and utility costs, the district plans to centralize some programs and staff: Sam Houston (Special Programs staff) will move into the upstairs of the former Oaks building in tiers during May, Carver will use the annex portion after school ends, and PAES will occupy the lower level of the Oaks facility. Administrators said those moves would reduce duplicated staffing, improve day-to-day supervision and safety coverage (including consistent officer presence for CTE double-block classes), and lower long-term property and casualty insurance costs.
Board members asked about what will happen to buildings the district vacates. District staff said they will evaluate each campus case-by-case after it is vacated and bring recommendations back to the board; if renovation costs (including asbestos remediation) are too high, the recommendation could be demolition. “When we vacate, we’ll evaluate it. It boils down to the cost of remediating and the cost of demoing the building,” one administrator said. Board members also urged the district to be mindful of neighborhood impacts, citing examples of past vacant properties becoming eyesores.
Administrators stressed the conversation is ongoing. They said discussions with COG also include aligning curriculum and related services so children who attend COG/Head Start would be better prepared and more likely to enter SAISD kindergarten ready to learn. The district noted that roughly 400 three- and four-year-olds in the community are not currently served or tracked by the district unless they later enroll in kindergarten.
The board received the update; no binding action or vote on relocations or property disposal occurred at the meeting. The administration said it will return with specific recommendations after facilities are vacated and assessed.
