Education
BY THOMAS LEFFLER
The Judson ISD board of trustees voted unan- imously to keep Judson Middle School, Candle- wood Elementary School and Franz Leadership Academy open, following over three hours of public comment during a special meeting May 21. What you need to know Discussions to close the schools stemmed from district ocials’ attempts to cut costs ahead of an anticipated budget shortfall. The district’s scal year 2025-26 base budget, without a voter-approved tax rate election, or VATRE, will have an anticipated shortfall of $40.82 million . If the district were to pursue a VATRE successfully, revenue would increase and reduce the shortfall to an estimated $27.79 million, according to a May 21 presentation. The closure of Judson Middle would have brought about $1.7 million in cost savings, according to a May 15 presentation. The closures of Candlewood and Franz Leadership Acad- emy—which were named as specic campuses for possible closures during a May 21 board meeting—would save the district an additional Judson ISD board votes to keep schools open
“We have about possibly $12 million more we’ll be adding to our budget if that VATRE passes. We did not mismanage funds; we are just not being paid what we should be to provide quality education in this community,” JOSÉ MACIAS JR., TRUSTEE
The Judson ISD board of trustees voted to keep three schools open following hours of public comment.
AMIRA VAN LEEUWENCOMMUNITY IMPACT
Approved cuts The Judson ISD board of trustees discussed and approved various cost-saving measures ahead of the 2025-26 school year.
Schools staying open 1 Franz Leadership Academy 2 Judson Middle School 3 Candlewood Elementary School
Teacher-student ratio increase: $2.65M *Compensation plan positions: $1.26M Library program restructure: $750K *District of Innovation teacher salary reduction: $177K
Live Oak
WURZBACH PKWY.
1
1516
WELCOME DR.
Windcrest
Conroe
2
Total $4.84M
1604
35
NOTE: THE NUMBERS IN THIS GRAPHIC HAVE BEEN ROUNDED. *COST OF PROPOSALS APPROVED AS OF PRESS TIME SOURCE: JUDSON ISDCOMMUNITY IMPACT
combined $1.7 million. What the board is saying
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certain groups face systemic disadvantages based on geography,” Walker said. “Students displaced by closures may struggle to adapt to new schools, face longer commutes and lose the support networks they had in their previous school.” Candlewood Elementary Assistant Principal Regina Miles said the proposal to close the school was more than a policy decision. “Schools like Candlewood are safe havens for many of our students. It is the only stable place that some of our students have. I have more to say, but I will speak for my kids every day. I have students that walk to school just to get a pair of shoes, so you can’t tell me that in this neighbor- hood, we don’t need a school. I have kids that
Trustee José Macias Jr. said that if an elemen- tary school needed to close in the future the district should look to closing the new, currently unopened Selma Elementary, as it would have less of an impact on the community. Board President Monica Ryan said she does not know where the district goes from here on budgetary matters. Trustee Suzanne Kenoyer, who opposed clos- ing schools without a proper process, encouraged the community to email and call state ocials. “A direct result of what they’re trying to do to public education is what you’re seeing happen here tonight. They need to fully fund public schools. It is in the state constitution,” Kenoyer said. Public input Claudia Walker, an early childhood special education teacher, said closures often target areas of low-income residents and communities of color. “This contributes to spatial injustice, where
CANDLEMEADOW
3
410
CANDLEGLENN
N
without a good plan for the community, teachers and students. Loren Orzechowski, a District 3 resident and Candlewood’s librarian, said JISD has poured a lot of taxpayer money into multiple projects for the school, like new plumbing and additional bathrooms, which were funded by 2016 and 2022 bonds. What’s next The board discussed additional cost-saving measures at a June 5 meeting, taking place after press time. The 2025-26 scal year budget is due to be approved by the board by June 30.
come on a daily basis just for the love.” Shawna Houlahan, a longtime district
employee, read a letter from Janie Franz—the widow of Edward Franz, whom the academy was named after in 1997—that questioned why the closures were brought up at the end of the year
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NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION
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