Residents urge Judson ISD not to locate alternative education program at Coronado Village Elementary

Several Coronado Village residents told the Universal City City Council on Feb. 18 they oppose Judson Independent School District’s consideration of repurposing Coronado Village Elementary School into a disciplinary alternative education program (DAEP), saying the proposal would bring safety risks, harm property values and place the program in the center of a residential neighborhood.

“We are here tonight to represent the Save Our Neighborhood Committee, a group of taxpayers and voters primarily from the Coronado Village community,” resident Robert Whiting said. He said petitioners have collected more than 200 signatures and urged council members and neighbors to attend upcoming Judson ISD meetings.

The concerns raised during the public comment period ranged from students’ behavior while assigned to DAEPs to the school’s immediate proximity to dozens of homes. James Salley, who said he lives directly across the street from Coronado Village Elementary, cited discipline reports he said were posted on the Judson ISD and Texas Education Agency websites and described incidents that, he said, raised safety questions for placing a DAEP in the middle of a neighborhood.

Elizabeth (Beth) Parker, who said she lives in Coronado Village, told council members the district’s DAEP serves about 120 students daily and that the proposed site would border more than 30 houses and a Judson pool property. She asked whether Universal City can establish legal limits that would prevent JCARE students from coming into residential areas and said current city child-safety-zone rules do not cover private homes.

Dan Brooks, assistant superintendent at Judson ISD, addressed the council and the audience, saying multiple district departments had proposed uses for the building and that the district had created a public survey. “I do wanna state that no decision has been made at this point,” Brooks said. He encouraged residents to attend a district town hall and the Judson ISD board meeting; he said the superintendent and cabinet would gather community input and then make a recommendation to the board, which would vote.

Mayor and council members repeatedly urged residents to attend the Judson town hall and school-board meeting, noting the district will make the final decision. Several council members said the community’s input could influence the district, including during bond votes that require broader public support.

No formal action by Universal City Council regarding the school’s repurposing was taken at the meeting. Council members limited the session’s citizens-to-be-heard time and encouraged residents to present their views directly to Judson ISD at scheduled public meetings.

Residents provided a website and said more detailed materials were available there; speakers also cited a Judson ISD board vote on Dec. 19, 2024 to close Coronado Village Elementary, which the speakers said set the stage for the current repurposing discussion.

Council members and staff made logistical notes about the town hall (scheduled by speakers for Feb. 24 at Coronado cafeteria at 6:30 p.m.) and said they would coordinate any council attendance so the city would not create an additional quorum at the Judson meetings.