After closing several schools, San Antonio Independent School District surveyed community members on how these empty buildings could be used.
The survey results, which were shared during two online facilities repurposing community member meetings on Tuesday, showed high demand for fine arts programs, early childhood education and green spaces.
The survey was created by the Facilities Repurposing Panel, which was convened by the district to gather community input to make recommendations about how to use the now vacant facilities and was presented by the district’s Office of Strategy.
Ernest Gonzalez, director of academics for the district, but there are other factors to consider such as proposals from outside organizations to partner with the district and use the closed facilities.
After approving a “rightsizing” resolution to address lower enrollment and struggles to keep school facilities running smoothly in 2023, SAISD closed 15 schools and merged three school locations. But the district kept ownership of the closed facilities and wants to know how its community would use the spaces.
Of the 9,378 respondents, an overwhelming 5,048 of those were students, 1,470 were parents and 1,970 were SAISD employees and teachers. The rest were grandparents, business owners, volunteer or community members.
The survey asked respondents to indicate whether they lived within SAISD’s boundaries, what their zip code is and whether they live within walking distance to one of the closed schools.
Highlights from the survey
Green spaces received the most “want” votes with 6,577 respondents indicating they wanted parks and playgrounds, and fine arts programs fell a close second with 6,442 votes. Senior center services received the least “wants” with 4,206 votes.
When asked to rank their top three choices for developments, results showed fine arts programs received more “1st Choice” rankings than the rest of the proposed services with 3,943 votes. Again, the senior center option fell last in the first choice category with 1,041 votes.
A fine arts program would probably have to be developed by an outside organization that focuses on fine arts, Gonzalez said.
Next steps
The survey, which opened to the public on Oct. 1, is still open to responses, and is one of several ways the district will gather information on local feedback and maintain outreach. Gonzales said there would be more surveys, interviews and meetings to get a temperature on what stakeholders want.
Securing partnerships is another of the district’s priorities, and Gonzales said they have already been successful on that end.
SAISD secured a partnership with PBK, an architectural design firm based out of Houston, whose mission is to “transform student experience in modern schools.”
PBK will help the district create a masterplan and help develop the process to accept and implement proposals from other parties.
When asked about a timeline for the implementation and development of services, Gonzalez said he couldn’t give a good estimate because they are still seeking outside partnerships.
“We have to be really flexible,” Gonzalez said.
But taking too long to repurpose the closed facilities may not be a good idea, according to consultants hired by the district.
Counselors of Real Estate Consulting Corps made a set of recommendations for the district’s vacant buildings in a September report, warning the district that transitioning schools to new use is not simple or easy.
“Allow for flexibility and prepare to pivot: if a property has not confirmed a new user and use within a predetermined timeframe, then consider sale or demolition,” the report says.
The CRE Consulting Corps’ recommendation of sale or demolition for unused buildings if they do not find uses quickly is meant to avoid “traumatizing” neighborhoods with possible vandalism and visible deterioration.
The consulting report cites the Chicago Public Schools’ closure of 50 school sites in 2013. As of 2023, only 20 of those schools have been repurposed, and the remaining buildings are either “mothballed and vacant,” don’t have any city-approved plans for reuse or have been sold and are in various stages of development.
“The team hopes that San Antonio can learn from others’ experiences to prevent this outcome,” the report states.
