SAN ANTONIO – It's the first day of school for the South San Independent School District, and for the first year the doors of three campuses will remain locked. The district closed the schools to save money amidst low enrollment numbers.
Last year the school board voted to close Kazen Middle School, Athens Elementary School, and the alternative school. Former Kazen elementary students will now attend Zamora Middle School, with former Athens students attending either Price Elementary School or Carillo Elementary School, and the alternative school students now going out of district.
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South San ISD will now has a total of 13 campuses. Roughly 100 teachers and staff lost positions in the district, officials say. A district spokeswoman said that while some of the students did go to other districts, everyone who wanted a job at a different school in the district got one.
In addition to the closures, South San ISD announced they will provide transportation to middle school students who have to cross Highway 16 to attend Zamora Middle School. Students originally were expected to cross a six-lane highway, in addition to the access road of Interstate 35.
“While Highway 16 has a crosswalk and a pedestrian light, the district has decided that the best and safest solution for our students crossing this highway to and from school is to provide them transportation,” superintendent Dr. Abelardo Saavedra said.
The issue will be on the agenda at at school board meeting on Tuesday, but transportation is being provided for the first day of school on Monday.
According to a 2015 TxDOT traffic map, more than 28,000 cars travel on portions of Highway 16, nearest to the school.
