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Brazosport ISD approves moving sixth-graders from Stephen F. Austin to Freeport Intermediate after public outcry
Summary
After extended public comment from Jones Creek residents, Brazosport ISD trustees voted to rezone sixth-graders from Stephen F. Austin Elementary to Freeport Intermediate to preserve Title I funding; pre-K through fifth grade students will remain at the Jones Creek campus.
Brazosport ISD trustees on a motion approved rezoning sixth-grade students currently assigned to Stephen F. Austin Elementary School (SFA) to Freeport Intermediate School, saying the change will help the district meet a Texas Education Agency (TEA) comparability exception and avoid an estimated loss of $2.3 million in Title I funding.
The move followed a presentation from district staff explaining sustained enrollment decline at SFA, fiscal pressures and TEA guidance. Superintendent Massey said, "It is the recommendation of the administration beginning in the 2526 school year for sixth grade students currently to attend Stephen F. Austin Elementary School to be rezoned to attend Freeport Intermediate School." The board approved that motion; trustees later voted that prekindergarten through fifth-grade students will continue to attend SFA.
The case hinges on TEA comparability rules for Title I campuses. District staff told the board SFA’s enrollment dropped from 326 students in February 2019 to 93 in August 2024 and that, without action, the district risked losing about $2.3 million a year in Title I funds used for positions and services across campuses. Staff described an exception TEA provided allowing exclusion of a campus from comparability calculations if its enrollment is less than half that of the nearest campus in the grade-span group; Polk Elementary was identified as the nearest comparable campus.
Jones Creek residents filled the public-comment period and pressed the board to keep the historic campus open. Speakers included William Tidwell, who thanked the board and Representative Cody Basu for help; Rhonda Flamel Rivera and others who described SFA as a multigenerational community anchor; and several residents who cited family histories and local identity tied to the school. One resident said the community had collected petition signatures asking trustees to keep SFA open; another urged the board to spend existing bond funds on campus improvements rather than allow the campus to close.
Trustees and staff repeatedly framed the decision as financially driven and regulatory rather than a desire to close the school. Trustee remarks noted declining districtwide enrollment, the complexity of state and federal funding formulas (refined ADA versus enrollment), and that the district must maintain comparability to retain Title I funding. Trustees also discussed past bond projects and cited that bond funds designated for SFA remain earmarked for SFA needs and that any reallocation would go through the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee and the board.
After extended public comment and trustee discussion, the board first moved and approved the rezoning of sixth-graders to Freeport Intermediate. A second motion to have prekindergarten through fifth-grade students continue at Stephen F. Austin Elementary also passed. No campus closure was ordered; the board directed administrative implementation of the approved rezoning plan and to continue allowing approved transfers to SFA per district practice.
Trustees and community leaders urged ongoing cooperation to stabilize SFA enrollment and to pursue local growth and infrastructure solutions that would support long-term campus viability. Several residents pledged continued advocacy and monitoring of bond spending and district plans.
Votes at a glance: Sixth-grade rezoning — Motion to rezone sixth-grade students from Stephen F. Austin Elementary to Freeport Intermediate School: moved by Trustee Chris (recorded as "Chris"), seconded by Trustee Swartner; outcome: approved. Pre-K–5 assignment — Motion that prekindergarten through fifth-grade students continue to attend Stephen F. Austin Elementary School: moved by Trustee Cuellar, seconded by Trustee Joe; outcome: approved.
Implementation and next steps include administrative rezoning notifications, continued allowance of approved transfers to the campus, and monitoring of enrollment to ensure SFA remains eligible for TEA’s comparability exception.
