As as soon as districts finalize plans to close schools, charter schools in the area, like IDEA Monterrey Park, plan to recruit students affected by the closures.IDEA, one of the largest public charter school networks in San Antonio, plans to recruit students from local school districts as officials finalize plans to shutter schools amid drops in enrollment.
Recruitment activities include attending community events, walking neighborhoods and hosting campus events, according to the charter operator. Another 10 scenarios were proposed last week during community meetings, where parents heard for the first time what could happen as soon as next year. Closing Gardendale Early Learning and moving students to Winston Elementary, creating a Pre-K to 5th grade program.
But Olga Moucoulis, a spokeswoman for the Edgewood district, said that only a fraction of those recommendations will make it to the board for a vote next month. With the growth of the charter schools in the region, Superintendent Eduardo Hernández said the district has had to increase marketing efforts to keep up. He also said charter schools often have higher turnover rates and less qualified teachers than traditional ISDs.SAISD has also been finding ways to compete with charter schools in recruitment and marketing efforts.