SAN ANTONIO – A little more than a week after closing its doors, the Texas Education Agency is allowing the San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity to reopen.
Commissioner Mike Morath said in a letter to Superintendent Dr. Tonja Nelson that the school has come into compliance with state requirements.
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Last week, the TEA closed the school’s doors, because the school was unable to “adequately safeguard the welfare of its students in compliance with Texas law." The document showed a 72-hour suspension notice was given back on Feb. 16, claiming the school needed to provide a health inspection with no violations. It mentions prior deficiencies that threatened student health and safety were never corrected.
The agency is also mandating the school have a state-appointed monitor.
TEA suspends SA charter school, associated campuses for health safety reasons
The monitor will oversee several tasks including:
- SASIC contractors who come into contact with student have completed the TEA’s required background check
- Ensure the school submits monthly compliance forms related to background checks
- Oversee that all employees who can hire new staff attend and complete fingerprint training by April 1.
- Safe food practices
- Report any TEA concerns related to criminal history requirements
The letter to the superintendent also said that if at any time the monitor determines food safety protocol is not followed, the school’s operations and funding will be suspended.
Inspection reports reveal previous issues at currently suspended SASIC schools
The school will also face suspension should the TEA determine that it is out of compliance with criminal history requirements or if the monitor determines conditions present a “threat to the health, safety, or welfare of SASIC students.”
School Board President Denise Fritter sent this statement to KSAT:
“We are very happy that the suspension was lifted. We requested that a TEA monitor come to the schools. We are ready for the students to come back and start their testing.”
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