By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
A financial consultant hired by the San Benito Consolidated Independent School District has recommended closing Landrum Elementary School after a sharp decline in enrollment.
School records show that Landrum’s enrollment has fallen significantly from 440 during the 2007-2008 school year to 360 in 2008-09. The campus saw a slight increase to 391, then 394, in the years following before dwindling to 379 in 2011-12 and 330 this school year.
SBCISD officials said that the figures, which reflect data as of the last Friday in October, are part of the Public Education Information Management System and were submitted by the school district to the Texas Education Agency.
“We still need a campus,” SBCISD Superintendent of Schools Antonio G. Limón said of Landrum. “We can take some of the overloads from some of the other campuses, so I would not recommend to the board that we close down (Landrum).”
Making the recommendation to close the elementary school was Martin Peña, who was tasked to evaluate the district’s budget. “He’s the guru of Valley superintendents and very knowledgeable when it comes to school finances,” Limón said.
The superintendent attributed the declining enrollment currently experienced throughout the district to the opening of IDEA Academy in San Benito in 2008.
“If you notice, it’s a district-wide thing,” Limón said. “We’re being hit by IDEA, which is hurting us and taking more and more students away from us.”
Attempts to reach IDEA representatives for comment were unsuccessful as of presstime Friday.
Despite opening four new campuses since 2008, the district’s total enrollment has increased by just 110 students. From 2011-12 to 2012-13, the district’s total enrollment fell from 11,387 to 11,154 – a difference of 233 students.
Read this story in the Jan. 13 edition of the San Benito News, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.
13 comments
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I have a different take on this story. Although, I haven’t heard of any “New schools “, being planned. I hope that where overcrowding exists. SBCISD will move some children/classes to there, within area of Landrum school. Second, when they were planning “bonuses ” recently , didn’t they take into account the loss of “state/federal” money from the low student enrollments? How could you not know that? The only logical answer is they know dam well (when and where) they are losing money but still insist on spending what they don’t have. !!
The problem with that school is it is falling apart, needs a lot of repairs. where will these funds come from…. and the bonus’, these employees have worked years with out receiving any type of cost of living raise or anything, i think they well deserveeme the bonus.
before I start getting corrected yes I should have put ” They well deserve the bonus”.
If The super isn’t going to take up on the recommendations of the consultant why are we (tax payer) hiring a consultant, it seems to be a waste of funds unless we take his advice. less than 400 students. we have plenty of elementary schools that can accomadate these students, and the staff also. I think it was good advice from the consultant
LUCY many have chosen to take their kids to Idea because Idea has no school board everything they do is to benefit students not their compadres and comadres !!!
Well,the school superintendent’s comments speak for themselves.His main and sole goal is to provide jobs for these poor people of San Benito,that can’t compete in the real world,closing Landrum would cause a loss of his popularity,and alot of his relatives and compadre’s jobs.
Like all the rest of this stuff,it has absolutely nothing to do with the students welfare,It’s simply a popularity contest ( d/b/a kickback scheme ),amongst the school system,it’s leaders,and the board members.Does it mattter whether it’s a Limon,or a Gonzales,it’s the same difference.
In one of the other comments above,the writer inquires as to why and how the students,and parents can be made to keep the students enrolled in the SB school district,well make it to benefit the students,not the employees,grow-up,people of San Benito.
I hope all the facts of closing the school are published and not selective parts. Call the board president and she if she answers.
Why the Story is ridiculous.
Author
Who do you think tipped us off about the story? Parents. Last time we checked, the editor controls what stories are published and when, not the superintendent. That won’t change because “Why the story” says so. This is a newspaper, not a school district department. Articles run at our discretion.
I am sure that these parents had no idea of a recommendation. It would have been better if the superintendent had given some insight to the community after privately informing the board. People just can’t wait to spread news and forget how it will impact students, staff and parents. “Because the superintendent disagrees” …. last time we checked, HE was in charge of the school district. That’s why not….
Author
Why not? Is the recommendation made by a consultant hired to make such recommendations irrelevant because the superintendent disagrees? It’s likely still a matter for board members to decide. Also, the mere fact that declining enrollment has thus far led to such a recommendation is quite newsworthy regardless of the outcome. In fact, we’re following up on this story.
If the superintendent is not recommending this school closure, why is this story being published? I hope the parents of this school call their board members.
Is there some kind of incentive one can come up with to deter these students from dropping out of district public schools ( I know Ideas is public too) to go to ideas?
I personally know many parents whom are just waiting for their kids to finish the districts 5th grade class to go to ideas.Just wondering.