Kevin Prince rolled up to Bonham Academy on a bike Tuesday morning with his daughter Amelia in tow on a tandem attachment.
The incoming fourth-grader is one of thousands of students across San Antonio heading to a new campus this year because their schools closed as part of district realignments at both the San Antonio and Edgewood independent school districts.
Both districts closed campuses in response to critical declines in enrollment in recent years, which left buildings across the district half empty, costing more to operate than the state provides in funding.
Alongside the two was Amelia’s mother, Kim Hicks, who said her daughter was sad about the closure of Lamar Elementary, but also had a friend who attended Bonham, creating a bridge to the new school.
“She was sad that her school was closing but also excited to go here, because she had heard good things about it,” Hicks said.
Other students transferred to Bonham from outside districts, or moved to the area for the first time.
As families filtered in from the surrounding neighborhood, first-day jitters led to quick goodbyes and parents taking their children’s pictures in front of the historic campus facade — which is nestled in Southtown, surrounded by trendy restaurants and eclectic historic mansions.
The shrill sound of a crossing guard’s whistle would halt morning traffic as parents and siblings hurried across the street, greeted by a smiling district police officer.
Liz Moseley stopped to ask for directions before walking with their son, Langston, up to the school entrance — where campus leaders greeted students and answered questions.
For Langston and his mother, the charismatic leadership of the school and the focus on fine arts drew them to transfer in from a charter school for fourth grade.
“He’s a little bit nervous,” Liz said, smiling at Langston.
A way forward
Lamar parents were among the most vocal opponents of the school closure process, creating a community organization to push back in the hopes that the school would be spared.
But even the harshest critics are trying to find a way forward as the new year begins.
Neil Gabrielson, who spoke out fervently against the closures throughout the community engagement process last year, said he is “cautiously optimistic,” as his daughters prepare to go to Hawthorne Academy, the campus identified for students to transfer to as part of a massive shuffle following school closures.
“I think that they do have the right leadership in place at the school to facilitate a good learning environment,” he said. “We’ll find out as the year starts and progresses.”
Lingering concerns about another round of closures are in the back of Gabrielson’s mind, with the group that fought to save Lamar preparing to fight to prevent other closures as part of a broader coalition of organizations pushing back on closing schools called Our Schools San Antonio.
Plans for another round of closures are intertwined with a discussion about a faltering and aging HVAC infrastructure, which was causing issues up until the day before school at some campuses — including Bonham, according to district leaders.
But HVAC concerns and talks of school closures were far out of the mind of families as they milled about the entrance of Bonham on Tuesday morning.
About 15 minutes away, students and teachers were also settling in for the first day of school at the Stafford Visual and Performing Arts Elementary School in Edgewood ISD, another school adjusting after the closure of two campuses last year.
Rosa Solis, the assistant principal at the West Side school, is starting fresh after the closure of the Winston Intermediate School of Excellence over the summer.
While school closures in recent years have been met with widespread criticism and community backlash, Solis said the most impacted stakeholders, the students, have taken the change differently than initially expected.
“We kind of underestimated our students,” she said. “Our students are very resilient, going through different episodes in the past couple of years, with schools shutting down, we were very concerned that they were going to be extremely affected.”
While there was some sadness, Solis said there was a feeling and talk of excitement for a new beginning.
“They feel that they’re at home because Edgewood is their home,” she said, adding that administrators like herself and teachers are also moving with students to new campuses.
With enrollment declines, students at Edgewood had their pick of campuses to attend following the closures, with district leaders holding an event to introduce specialty campuses across the district.
Elissa Machado, Stafford’s principal, said some parents didn’t know about the unique offerings available, including the fine arts options at their campus.
“Parents who are within our district didn’t know that we offer music, dance, orchestra, theater for kiddos,” she said. “And that’s something important that gives students an opportunity to learn in different modalities.”
Back at Bonham, passersby stooped down to pet Chico, a mellow auburn-colored dog, who accompanied Chad and Susan Sullivan as they dropped off their two kids.
The couple just moved to the area, in part because of the school — which was expanded this year as part of the district’s right-sizing plan.
“I’m hoping for lots of friends, and better structure for the kids,” Susan said.
Looking into the distance, with the Tower of Americas peeking through a canopy of trees, Chad said he was optimistic about the school year and grateful for the campus’s location. “We’ve also met all the teachers — lovely people,” he said.
