Dozens of parents, teachers urge NEISD board to pause proposed closures of three campuses

Dozens of parents, teachers and community members pressed the Northeast Independent School District board on Jan. 14 to delay or abandon a proposed consolidation that would close Driscoll Middle School, Clear Spring Elementary and Wilshire Elementary.

Public commenters — 18 people signed up to speak — described emotional, academic and logistical harms they said would follow from closures, and repeatedly asked the board to extend the community engagement timeline. ‘‘This is a school closure. If my 2nd grader cannot attend the school at the end of the block, the school is closed,’’ said Judy Martinez of NEISD Community Advocates.

Why it matters: Trustees said the proposals are part of a district effort to address underused facilities and budget pressures, but speakers argued the changes could disrupt special‑education services, raise truancy and push families to charters or private schools. Several parents said Clear Spring provides essential supports for students with autism and other needs; one mother said services there had turned around her child’s academic progress.

Teachers and staff described classroom impacts. Cameron Stevens, a second‑grade teacher at Clear Spring Elementary, read students’ statements and warned that high teacher turnover and recent leadership changes made another disruption especially damaging. ‘‘Our students deserve some consistency in their education and uninterrupted school paths,’’ Stevens said.

Other speakers emphasized community ties and property‑value concerns. Clint Hudson, a recent district homeowner, said closing a nearby middle school would ‘‘destroy the trust the community has in Northeast ISD’’ and likely drive families out of the district.

Board response and process: Trustees thanked speakers but did not take final action at the meeting. Trustee Tracy Shelton said she understood community concerns and that trustees were expected to vote on the consolidation in a future meeting; Shelton asked for additional time and data. Several trustees requested the same records and analysis that have been discussed by the district’s internal review groups.

Next steps: The district has scheduled community meetings for Jan. 21 (Driscoll Middle, 6 p.m.), Jan. 22 (Wilshire Elementary, 6 p.m.) and Jan. 23 (Clear Spring Elementary, 6 p.m.) to hear more input. Multiple speakers urged the board to use those sessions to extend outreach and postpone any final vote.

Context: Commenters repeatedly asked for an ‘‘equity audit’’ and for specifics about how special‑education supports, counseling and transportation would be maintained during any consolidation. Several speakers referenced recent state policy changes and possible increases in state funding, and urged the board to wait for clearer financial information before voting.

Ending: Trustees acknowledged the volume of testimony and said staff would supply additional materials for board review. No final decisions were made at the Jan. 14 meeting.