As the end of the 2023 – 24 school term looms ahead, it will bring about recommended closures of fifteen district schools, among them Douglas Elementary, Miller Elementary and Tynan Early Childhood Center, which all Fall in District 2. Other later closures will include Carroll Early Childhood Center and S. H. Gates Elementary School, whose students will be added to MLK Academy, according to SAISD announcements.
In the midst of these closures, parents, voters, and community organizations are seeking answers, as to where does the D2 Trustee stand, regarding the impact of closures on families and students. More answers are also being sought regarding recent bond funding, in the millions, which were approved by voters and have these funds been allocated. No messaging from the D2 SAISD Trustee is being seen.
An additional question looms, as to Trustee Alicia Sebastian’s affiliation with Essence Preparatory, a newly developed Charter school, now located in District 2. There’s been business cards floating about, in the community, which reflects the Trustee as “Executive Assistant to the CEO.”
This situation raises significant concerns about a potential conflict of interest, which merits the attention of the school board, parents, school personnel, and the broader community. Serving as an SAISD Trustee while being employed by a charter school presents a complex challenge. The recruitment and retention of students by the charter school detract from the SAISD student population, contributing to the closures noted previously. Ethically, the imperative should be to prioritize the interests of one’s constituents and their students unequivocally. This scenario demands that trustees align their actions strictly with the welfare of the community they serve, ensuring their commitment remains undivided.
Since her election in 2019, the Trustee, Ms. Sebastian, appears to have receded from active engagement, demonstrating a lack of responsiveness to certain community organizations that had previously shown their support. This inattention is evidenced by her failure to return phone calls and emails. Additionally, commitments to conduct educational sessions with community members have not been fulfilled. A significant portion of the constituency reports a pervasive sense of neglect, attributing Ms. Sebastian’s inattentiveness to her preoccupations with charter school endeavors. This perceived disengagement raises questions about the efficacy of her role and her capacity to serve the community’s interests adequately.
With a number of reasons having been offered, by SAISD ‘s board /trustee – declining enrollment, we ask if efforts were ever considered or made, to collaborate with the City of San Antonio or Bexar County, to address the quality of the neighborhoods, within District 2, in order to attract more families with school age children. This would help increase school enrollment. It has been floated that SAISD is “losing 20% of students to charter schools.”
The opportunities being sought, for SAISD students, particularly those in District 2, must be focused on succeeding and they need an advocacy that will ensure academic success, at the highest level. That advocate must be just as committed to improving the student outcomes as well as are parents and community members.
Community organizations, education advocacy groups and community members will continue to reach out in hopes they will receive a response from their SAISD D2 Trustee (an elected position) Ms. Sebastian. This story will be updated.
