As concerns mount among Corpus Christi ISD school board members, the futures of Kostoryz Elementary School and Schanen Estates Elementary School hang in the balance. Following an intense debate on April 28, the board postponed a final decision, leaving families and staff in suspense over the outcome.
Board Tables Decision Amid Emotional Concerns
During the April 28 meeting, Corpus Christi ISD leaders proposed closing Kostoryz and Schanen Estates Elementary Schools due to costly and urgent maintenance needs. However, emotions ran high among board members, notably Trustee Marty Bell, who voiced deep concerns for the families impacted.
“What about the families? What about the kids, and how this closure will affect their lives?” Bell asked passionately.
Superintendent Roland Hernandez emphasized that although the conversation is difficult, it remains essential for Corpus Christi ISD’s future. He pointed out that postponing action today would only delay inevitable decisions down the line.
“These conversations are healthy, even though they are emotional,” Hernandez said. “Whether we act now or not, these issues will not go away.”
Proposed Changes: School Rezonings and Enrollment Shifts
If closures proceed, the district will rezone Kostoryz and Schanen Estates students to nearby campuses. Kostoryz students would split among Galvan, Los Encinos, Sanders, and Yeager elementary schools. Meanwhile, most Schanen Estates students would transfer to Dawson Elementary School, with smaller groups attending Club Estates and Sanders.
Understandably, enrollment at these receiving campuses would increase. District officials confirmed that portable classrooms, already in use at several schools, would remain essential to accommodate the influx of students.
Additionally, district leaders outlined benefits such as reduced maintenance costs, improved operational efficiency, and potential boosts to campus accountability ratings.
Mounting Maintenance Needs at Affected Campuses
Notably, the maintenance challenges at Kostoryz and Schanen Estates are significant. Kostoryz faces failing HVAC chillers, cast-iron plumbing problems, damaged roofing, and deteriorating portable classrooms. Schanen Estates struggles with roofing issues, asbestos in acoustic insulation, cracked concrete, and plumbing failures.
Although Yeager, Sanders, Club Estates, and Galvan elementary schools also need HVAC and roofing repairs, the district has already scheduled some updates at Club Estates and Galvan for this summer.
Deputy Superintendent Karen Griffith reassured the community that no staff member would lose their job if closures occurred. Open vacancies across the district would absorb displaced teachers, administrators, and support personnel.
School Board Members Voice Deep Reservations
Despite the district’s assurances, several board members expressed skepticism. Trustee Steve Barrera, a former principal familiar with school closures, recognized the emotional toll.
“It impacts a lot of people,” Barrera said.
Trustee Bell shared personal observations from Schanen Estate’s morning drop-offs, highlighting that many children walk to school. He warned that families will face new transportation burdens if closures happen, either relying on buses or driving longer distances.
“Thirty minutes in the morning is like gold when raising kids,” Bell emphasized.
Rather than closing the schools, Bell suggested finding funds to address the maintenance issues.
Questions About Future Impacts
Meanwhile, Trustees Don Clark and Dolly Gonzales Trolley raised questions about the plan’s broader implications. The trustees highlighted concerns about Sanders Elementary School, which the district previously targeted for closure under a failed 2024 bond proposal.
Sanders, built with outdated “pod” classrooms requiring students to walk through other classes, remains a challenging learning environment, particularly for special education students.
“We owe it to our voters, students, and teachers to come up with the right plan,” Gonzales Trolley stressed.
Griffith acknowledged that many campuses have needs, but Kostoryz and Schanen Estates have the most pressing problems. Still, she warned that keeping Sanders open might only delay future disruptions, noting that students could eventually face another round of school moves.
Looking Ahead: Another Bond Proposal on the Horizon?
If the district decides not to close the schools, costly repairs will be necessary. Hernandez hinted that Corpus Christi ISD will likely seek another bond election soon to address the growing list of aging campuses.
“Many of our buildings are 50 to 60 years old,” Hernandez said. “Their maintenance and renovation needs are significant.”
Ultimately, as the school board prepares to revisit the issue in May, the community remains on edge, waiting to learn the fate of their neighborhood schools — and the future of education in Corpus Christi.