By Edmond Ortiz
The North East Independent School District board will have a special Nov. 16 when trustees expect to mull a formal proposal to close Dellview, Montgomery, Oak Grove elementary schools.
North East ISD officials began informing community members in the late morning of Nov. 5 of district administrators’ decision to recommend shuttering the three campuses, and relocating students and staff to nearby elementary schools.
The closure recommendations are based on a recently unveiled district efficiency committee report, which outlined 16 campuses that could be reviewed for potential closure or consolidation to help further decrease NEISD’s budget deficit and improve district finances.
Several parents, students and teachers from Dellview, Montgomery and Oak Grove elementaries addressed the school board Oct. 19, imploring district leaders to reconsider their approach and find a way to stave off any school closure.
According to NEISD administrators at the Oct. 19 board meeting, Dellview students and teachers would be redirected to Colonial Hills Elementary, Oak Grove’s population would be sent to Regency Place Elementary, and Montgomery’s population would be shifted to Windcrest Elementary.
Trustees are set to receive at their regularly scheduled Nov. 9 board meeting an update from the efficiency committee, and a report on the in-person and virtual community meetings that were held over a two-week period in October. Formal action on the school closure recommendations will be slated for Nov. 16.
In their Nov. 5 emailed statement to community members, NEISD officials said they understand that the potential for school closures has sparked questions and concerns among affected families and employees.
“Please know that we are grateful for your continued engagement, support and partnership as we work together to make thoughtful decisions in the best interest of our students and district,” the statement read.
